Sierra Leone: Discover the Beauty of Freetown and Support the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Rescuing and Rehabilitating Chimpanzees: Inside Freetown’s Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is a country located on the west coast of Africa. It is home to many wonderful and unique attractions, but one that stands out is the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary located just outside the capital city of Freetown. This sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees are one of the closest living relatives to humans, sharing approximately 98% of our DNA. They are highly intelligent and social creatures, living in communities or troops. Unfortunately, chimpanzees are also facing many threats in the wild, such as habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. Many young chimpanzees are orphaned as a result, and that is where the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary comes in.

The sanctuary was founded in 1995 by Bala Amarasekaran, a British-Sri Lankan national who had a passion for conservation. He saw the need to provide a safe haven for orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees, and so he established the sanctuary on a large plot of land in the hills just outside Freetown.

The sanctuary is now home to over 100 chimpanzees, all of whom have been rescued from various situations. Some were confiscated from illegal pet traders, while others were found wandering alone in the forest after their mothers were killed by hunters. Regardless of how they arrived at the sanctuary, all of the chimpanzees receive the same high level of care and attention.

The sanctuary is divided into several different areas, with each one catering to a specific group of chimpanzees. There is a nursery area for the youngest and most vulnerable chimpanzees, where they receive around-the-clock care from dedicated staff. There is also a rehabilitation area, where chimpanzees who are closer to being released back into the wild are housed. These chimpanzees are given the opportunity to learn essential survival skills, such as foraging for food and building nests.

In addition to the various housing areas, the sanctuary also has a veterinary clinic on site. This clinic is staffed by trained professionals who can provide medical care to the chimpanzees as needed. The clinic also plays an important role in preventing the spread of disease, as all new arrivals to the sanctuary are quarantined and given a thorough health check before being introduced to the other chimpanzees.

The sanctuary is not open to the public, but visitors can book tours in advance to see the chimpanzees and learn more about the work being done at the sanctuary. The tours are led by knowledgeable guides who can answer any questions visitors may have about the chimpanzees and their care. Visitors will also be able to observe the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, swinging through the trees, playing with each other, and generally enjoying their new home.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has had a significant impact on the conservation of chimpanzees in Sierra Leone. Not only has it provided a safe haven for orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees, but it has also worked to raise awareness of the importance of conservation and the need to protect these amazing creatures. The sanctuary has also been involved in community outreach programs, working with local schools and community groups to educate people about the importance of conservation and the role that chimpanzees play in the ecosystem.

In recent years, the sanctuary has also become involved in ecotourism initiatives. This has included the development of an eco-lodge on the sanctuary grounds, which allows visitors to stay overnight and experience the natural beauty of the area. The eco-lodge is designed to be environmentally sustainable, with solar power and rainwater harvesting systems in place.

Overall, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a remarkable place that is doing important work in the field of conservation. It provides a safe and loving home for chimpanzees who have been orphaned or abandoned, and it is also working to raise awareness of the importance of conservation and the need to protect these amazing creatures. Anyone visiting Sierra Leone should make a point of visiting the sanctuary, as it is truly a unique and inspiring place.