For two such young chimps, they've certainly been through a lot. But we believe that with a lot of care and attention, they will grow up to be wonderful, happy chimps. The two babies will join 84 other chimps that have been confiscated from poachers, rescued from zoos and circuses, or repatriated to Africa from as far away as Russia and Haiti. Each rescued chimp that is brought to Chimfunshi is allowed time to recover before joining ad-hoc family groups in the refuge's thick forests, fruit groves and open grasslands. The chimps are encouraged to live as naturally as possible.
Human contact is kept to a minimum.
The future for these two baby chimps has been made secure through many contributions. Their relocation costs were covered through donations from the IPPL and the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, along with discounted travel fares from Emirates Airlines. The Primate Conservation and Welfare Society made a donation to Chimfunshi for their long-term care. Because primates are vanishing so rapidly, international trade in every primate species is banned or controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. All other primates are listed on Appendix II, which permits strictly monitored and controlled trade.