Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone

Nestled amidst the lush greenery of the Western Area Peninsula National Park in Sierra Leone, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary serves as a beacon of hope for critically endangered Western chimpanzees. Founded in 1995 by conservationist Bala Amarasekaran and his wife Sharmila, Tacugama has transformed from a humble rescue centre for orphaned chimps into a multifaceted organization dedicated to chimpanzee rehabilitation, environmental education, and community outreach.

Illegal Hunting

The sanctuary's story begins with a grim reality. The illegal bushmeat trade and habitat loss due to deforestation pose a serious threat to chimpanzee populations in Sierra Leone. Orphaned chimps, often victims of the bushmeat trade, face a bleak future without proper care, their mothers killed for their meat, leaving their young behind. These infants, completely dependent on their mothers for survival, are highly vulnerable, so the Amarasekarans established Tacugama to provide a safe haven for these apes. Over the years, Tacugama has become home to over 100 chimpanzees, offering them a chance to heal, socialise, and live in a semi-natural environment.

The sanctuary provides spacious enclosures designed to replicate the natural habitat of chimpanzees. These enclosures are far from sterile cages,  instead they are towering mesh structures interwoven with climbing ropes and platforms, mimicking the branches of trees. Lush greenery provides shade and hiding spaces, allowing the chimps to express their natural behaviours like foraging, climbing, and swinging. A dedicated team of caregivers ensures the chimps receive proper nutrition and veterinary care. Caregivers carefully introduce new arrivals, observing their interactions and ensuring compatible chimps can form social groups. This allows the chimps to exhibit natural behaviours like grooming each other, playing, and even resolving conflicts within their groups.

Address the root causes

However, Tacugama's mission extends beyond the sanctuary walls. Recognising the root causes of chimpanzee endangerment, the organisation actively engages in conservation efforts. They collaborate with law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal bushmeat trade, with trained rangers working alongside law enforcement officials to patrol forests, identify illegal activities and apprehend poachers. This collaborative effort disrupts the supply chain of the bushmeat trade, helping to protect chimpanzees and many other wildlife species. In addition, Tacugama is involved in vital research programs to better understand chimpanzee behaviour and threats to their survival. Researchers study social dynamics within chimpanzee groups, their communication methods, and how they utilize their environment, all of which essential for developing effective conservation strategies.

Tacugama also champions reforestation initiatives by working alongside local communities, where they plant native trees in areas previously destroyed by deforestation. This work not only restores lost chimpanzee habitat but also promotes biodiversity and combats soil erosion. By creating wildlife corridors, these reforestation efforts allow chimpanzees to safely travel between fragmented forest patches, promoting a healthy gene flow within the population.

Community Education and Outreach

Understanding that long-term conservation success hinges on community involvement, Tacugama prioritises its education and outreach programs. The Tacugama Conservation Outreach Programme (TCOP) directly engages with communities surrounding the sanctuary, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. TCOP employs community outreach officers who work closely with villages to raise awareness about the importance of chimpanzee conservation.  These officers conduct workshops, educational presentations, and even organise drama performances to deliver their message to the local communities in an engaging way.  They also understand how important it is to empower these local communities to become active participants in protecting their endangered primates. Part of this involves supporting alternative livelihoods that are less reliant on deforestation and providing training in sustainable resource management.

Tacugama's efforts extend to the younger generation as well with The Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Programme (TKEEP) working with schools across Freetown, integrating chimpanzee conservation into their curriculum. TKEEP teachers have  developed interactive learning modules that introduce students to the fascinating world of chimpanzees.  Students learn about chimpanzee intelligence, social behaviours, and the threats that they face.  Through engaging activities like games, quizzes, and even visits to the sanctuary itself, TKEEP aims to nurture a love for nature in children. By fostering a generation of environmentally conscious citizens, TKEEP aims to cultivate a future generation dedicated to protecting Sierra Leone's rich biodiversity.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a testament to the power of dedication and collaboration. From providing a haven for orphaned chimpanzees to fostering a culture of conservation within communities, Tacugama plays a pivotal role in ensuring the survival of these intelligent primates in Sierra Leone. By supporting Tacugama, visitors and conservation enthusiasts alike can contribute to a brighter future for chimpanzees and the lush ecosystems they call home. Visitors can choose from a variety of tours, offering a glimpse into the lives of the chimpanzees and the vital work undertaken by the sanctuary.