Chimp Gets Food Delivered by Drone After Floodwaters Leave Him Stranded

November 11, 2026

A chimpanzee stranded by floodwaters in Florida received a very unusual food delivery this week, thanks to a team of dedicated caregivers who refused to let rising water get in the way of his care.

Kaleb / Save the Chimps

When heavy rains flooded the 150-acre Save the Chimps sanctuary near Fort Pierce, normally busy roads disappeared underwater, making it nearly impossible for staff to reach some of the animals.

But one chimpanzee named Kaleb needed a little extra help.

The 38-year-old chimp had become stranded on a small island surrounded by floodwater, leaving him cut off from the usual food deliveries.

Fortunately, his caregivers had an unexpected solution: a delivery drone.

Staff members loaded food and blankets onto the drone and flew them directly to Kaleb. The sanctuary even captured video of him happily pulling a banana from a paper bag dropped from above.

"Chimps are getting all their food, bananas and oranges on time," facilities director Mark Yohannan said. "They're good. They haven't missed a beat."

Sanctuary CEO Ana Paula Tavares was especially touched by Kaleb's reaction to his airborne delivery.

"It seemed to me like there was a grateful look on his face," she said.

The chimpanzees at Save the Chimps are survivors who were rescued from research laboratories, the entertainment industry and the pet trade.

As Tavares explained, "These are beautiful beings, very smart ... and are super resilient."

Thankfully, all the animals remained safe throughout the flooding, and the water had receded significantly by Saturday.  

Watch the delivery below: