A drone dropped a paper bag of food to a stranded chimpanzee as floodwater cut off normal access at a Florida sanctuary.
Story Highlights
- Video shows a drone delivering food to a chimp named Kaleb at a flooded sanctuary.
- Staff say floodwater isolated the 38-year-old ape on an outdoor area within the property.
- Sanctuary leaders described steady care efforts and the reason they kept a delivery drone.
- Reports say the site houses about 200 chimpanzees on roughly 150 acres in Fort Pierce.
Drone Delivery Reached Kaleb When Floodwater Blocked Access
Save the Chimps staff used a drone to deliver a paper bag of food to a chimp named Kaleb after heavy flooding swamped roads and normal routes inside the Fort Pierce sanctuary. Video shared by news outlets shows the drone lowering a bag and Kaleb retrieving it. Reports describe the delivery as an emergency step after water made standard ground access unsafe or too slow. The clip shows the moment of success that kept a stranded animal fed during the surge.
Associated Press reporting identified Kaleb as a 38-year-old chimp who remained on an outdoor area that floodwater had cut off from usual care paths. Staff kept other housing on higher ground safe and continued care where conditions allowed. The footage and accounts focus on the rare scene of a drone bridging the gap when workers could not reach him quickly. The report anchors the delivery at the sanctuary campus during the flooding event.
Sanctuary Leaders Explain Emergency Steps And Preparations
Sanctuary leaders told reporters they had a delivery drone on hand for this type of emergency. They said crews faced damaged or submerged routes, so a small payload flight made sense to get food to the animal fast. Management said care houses on high ground stayed secure, while flooded paths and equipment slowed movement across the site. The stated goal was to stabilize needs until conditions eased and ground teams could resume full access.
Coverage from local and national outlets aligns on the basics: floodwater blocked usual routes, a drone carried supplies, and Kaleb received and ate from the bag. One report highlights him removing and eating a banana from the delivery, underscoring that the flight was not only planned but worked on the spot. The simple success matters in crises, when minutes and access can decide outcomes for animals under care.
What The Video Shows And What We Still Do Not Know
The video and still images document the bag delivery, Kaleb’s approach, and his handling of the food. Reports add that flooding damaged roads, roofs, and vehicles across the 150-acre campus that houses about 200 chimpanzees. These facts set the scale of the challenge and why staff reached for a drone to meet an urgent need. The exact drone model, payload weight, and flight log were not detailed in the public reports used here.
🐒🚁 SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR ONE VERY HUNGRY CHIMP!
When severe flooding damaged roads, buildings, and equipment at the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, staff had to get creative.
A drone was used to deliver food to Kaleb, a 38-year-old chimpanzee, despite the… pic.twitter.com/L84OIJOqzN
— Breaking Battlegrounds (@Breaking_Battle) November 11, 2026
This event also fits a wider trend: drones can help when floods and storms block access. Reviews of disaster response note drones’ speed and reach for delivery and scouting in hard places. Their value still depends on operator skill, weather, and what the animal can handle. Here, a short, targeted drop delivered food to one chimp under stress. The on-scene success shows how simple tools can help until ground routes reopen and full care resumes.
Sources:
facebook.com, unb.com.bd, bbc.com, richmondregister.com, ouci.dntb.gov.ua
