VIDEO: Tarpon Fire Donates Old Hoses For New Orangutan Swing

It's no secret that the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is one of the few remaining old Florida-type roadside attractions. But, you may not know about all of the local businesses, agencies and volunteers that help support this nonprofit organization.

Next time you visit the sanctuary, take a close look at the animals' habitats and you'll see how the community has pitched in.

"Anybody else's junk can be toys for our animals," said Debbie Cobb, Suncoast Primate Sanctuary outreach coordinator.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue and Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue donated old fire hoses. Volunteers from Home Shopping Network then braided the hoses together to create swings for the chimp enclosures.

Staff at local Starbucks donated a tortoise enclosure. Local grocery stores make frequent donations of produce.

Even McDonald's has made donations. The brightly-colored swings and tubes inside chimp enclosures were once in a McDonald's Playland.

This week, orangutans at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary got to watch as volunteers Jeanne and Mike Compitello built them a new swing (see video). 

It's hard to tell who had more fun, the volunteers who built the swing, or the orangutans, who watched their every move.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is located at 4600 Alt. 19, (727) 943-5897

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