Our sanctuaries inspire hope
HBO’s recent Chimp Crazy documentary highlighted the tragic situation of chimpanzees held in private captivity. When chimpanzees and other great apes are rescued from the unsuitable conditions in which they have been kept as pets and for human entertainment, thankfully there are high quality accredited sanctuaries who can provide a permanent home with expert care and rehabilitation, giving them a second chance for a good life.
“We work day and night to save every single life. It’s our passion.”
Dr. Rebeca Atencia, Executive Director JGI Republic of Congo, Tchimpounga Sanctuary Manager/Senior Veterinarian
Whilst at JGI our focus is on the future of chimpanzees in the wild, tragically, rescued chimpanzees may not be able to return to the wild. They have not socialised within a group or learned the knowledge and behaviours they need to thrive in their natural habitat.
Dr Jane Goodall’s work in Gombe laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of chimpanzees, their lifestyle, behaviours and relationship with their habitat. In knowing what chimpanzees need to thrive, we also know that in captivity, chimpanzees suffer greatly unless provided with appropriate conditions and specialist care to meet their complex needs.
The best sanctuaries have ethics at their heart, prioritising the needs of the apes and designing care for a long-term future where chimpanzees can live as naturally as possible. Our sanctuaries not only provide a spacious naturalistic environment and are designed to meet the complex needs of the species, but they also take care to accommodate the needs of each individual in their particular situation.
Rescued apes may have been trafficked as infants and deprived of the diligent love and care of their mother and the learning she would ensure as they mature into adolescents over several years. Our sanctuary carers design interactions and learning experiences for infants to gain the skills they need to survive in the wild – or as close to a wild existence as possible – and to facilitate them to express their natural behaviors and enjoy the freedom they deserve.
*The Jane Goodall Institute does not endorse handling or close proximity to wildlife. This represents a sanctuary context with trained professionals.*
In the video above we see an example of this with a caretaker at JGI’s Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of Congo demonstrating to a group of chimpanzees how to use a rock as a tool to crack open a nut shell. The caretaker breaks the nut with the rock, showing the chimpanzees how to access the nut’s edible interior. The chimpanzees learn by observing attentively and will attempt to mimic the action, reflecting their natural curiosity and learning behaviors.
Dr. Rebeca Atencia explained in a Hopecast with Dr. Jane Goodall that it is vital that species have appropriate enrichment in captivity to meet their needs. We are working to share learning like this environmental enrichment which seeks to replicate the things that chimpanzees do in the wild. Such enrichment can be life-changing for the individuals, enabling them to live in big groups in a naturalistic environment. Ultimately we aspire for these incredible beings to live freely in their natural habitat.
Find out more about our sanctuaries Tchimpounga and Chimp Eden and how they inspire hope for chimpanzees.
Listen to Dr. Jane Goodall’s Hopecast with Dr. Rebeca Atencia
Imagery credit: JGI/Fernando Turmo
