Sierra Leone: popular chimpanzee sanctuary under threat from encroachment

Africanews (in English)

Sierra Leone: popular chimpanzee sanctuary under threat from encroachment  The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a safe haven for orphaned, rescued and abused chimpanzees across Sierra Leone. But the sanctuary and its inhabitants are under threat from illegal land grabs that diminish the rainforest.  READ MORE : http://www.africanews.com/2025/06/04/sierra-leone-popular-chimpanzee-sanctuary-under-threat-from-encroachment  Subscribe on our Dailymotion channel and receive all the latest news from the continent.    Africanews is available in English and French.  Website : www.africanews.com  Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/  Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

Transcript

00:00These forests are home to our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, chimpanzees.

00:08But the intelligent creatures, already endangered, now face an existential threat.

00:13Humans are taking more and more of their habitat.

00:17Illegal slash-and-burn farming, cattle ranching and houses being built are making the forests shrink.

00:24And now, even a sanctuary for the chimps is under threat.

00:28Every time a baby chimp arrives, people think, oh well, you're doing a good job.

00:42You were able to confiscate a chimp and rescue a chimp and bring it here.

00:47But for me, as founder of the sanctuary, I feel defeated because this chimp shouldn't be arriving here.

00:53If we have done enough work outside, there shouldn't be any killing.

00:57There shouldn't be rescues.

00:58That's the time I can say we have achieved something.

01:02The Takugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction in Sierra Leone.

01:09But in an attempt to take a stand against illegal land grabs, its doors are now closed for visitors.

01:16This also means no revenues for the centre.

01:22Now we're closed indefinitely.

01:25But what if this becomes something wherein we can never open the sanctuary again to people to visit?

01:30Then you have all these young Sierra Leoneans who have to live their lives,

01:33not even ever understanding fully what the national animal is, not having the opportunity to experience it.

01:38While the sanctuary staff are concerned about the future, their number one priority is clear,

01:44caring for the centre's endangered inhabitants.

01:47Yeah.

01:48That's the only difference.

01:49It's the only difference that is known as theätter.

01:50That's the only difference.

01:51That way the people and its scientists think that they are familiar with.

01:52That is, I guess, everything is known as the

02:06European Union Department.

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