Flood Causes $1 Million in Damage to Ape Research Center
Iowa’s record June floods have caused more than $1 million in damage to Great Ape Trust, one of the largest great ape research centers in North America.
Two to three feet of water swamped much of the center, which was built in a floodplain on land donated by the city. Two administrative buildings were damaged as well as mechanical systems in the ape research center, said operations director Jim Aipperspach.
None of the apes was injured in the flooding, and researchers were able to resume work within a week, Aipperspach said. In fact, since the flooding, the mechanical systems have been restored and replaced and most of the information technology systems are back online, Aipperspach said.
Flood insurance will cover about $250,000 in damages, and the group hopes to make up the shortfall in fundraising efforts. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report will examine the factors that led to the floods and provide the trust with information about how best to avoid future damage.
Once completed, the Great Ape Trust is expected to be one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape - bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.
"We'll stay here, it's a beautiful location," Aipperspach said. "What we need to do is work with nature."
Published on August 28, 2008
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