Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary: Conservation and Community in Sierra Leone

Set within the lush Western Area Peninsula National Park, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers a powerful example of conservation in action. Since its founding in 1995 by Bala Amarasekaran and his wife Sharmila, the sanctuary has grown from a modest rescue centre into a dynamic organisation focused on chimpanzee welfare, environmental education, and community engagement.

Responding to the Threats Facing Chimpanzees

The bushmeat trade and widespread deforestation have severely impacted chimpanzee populations in Sierra Leone. Today, more than 100 chimpanzees live at the sanctuary, receiving medical attention, nutritious food, and opportunities to socialise in semi-natural enclosures with climbing ropes, platforms, and dense vegetation that encourage natural behaviours.

Tackling Root Causes Through Conservation

Tacugama's mission extends beyond caring for rescued chimpanzees. Collaborating with law enforcement, trained rangers patrol forest areas to combat illegal hunting, while scientists study chimpanzee behaviour to inform conservation strategies. Reforestation efforts restore habitats and create wildlife corridors that allow chimpanzees to move safely between forest patches.

Education and Outreach

The Tacugama Conservation Outreach Programme (TCOP) works directly with villages near the sanctuary to promote environmental awareness, running workshops, presentations and performances, plus training in resource management and eco-friendly agriculture to support alternative livelihoods.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Programme (TKEEP) introduces students across Freetown to conservation through interactive lessons exploring chimpanzee intelligence and social behaviour, using games, quizzes, and sanctuary visits.

Visiting Tacugama

Guided tours offer insights into chimpanzee rehabilitation and the broader conservation efforts underway, with nature walks and birdwatching in the tranquil setting. Tacugama also offers eco-lodging for overnight stays, with proceeds helping fund care for the chimpanzees and community programmes.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary offers more than just a refuge for endangered animals. It represents hope, resilience, and collaboration, and invites people to connect with nature and become part of a global effort to protect biodiversity.