The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is a non-profit sanctuary in central Zambia, housing about 100 orphaned chimpanzees, as well as several other injured or orphaned animals.

By Julia Henriques, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Chimfunshi’s history

Chimfunshi began in 1983 with the care of a wounded infant chimpanzee - “Pal” - that a game ranger brought to the cattle ranch of Sheila and David Siddle, a British couple who had lived in Zambia since the 1950s. The Siddles nursed Pal back to health, and the rescue of that one injured chimp sowed the seed of what is now a 1,200-acre animal refuge. After Pal’s recovery, the Siddles began receiving chimpanzees confiscated from poachers, as well as many rescued from poor conditions in zoos and circuses worldwide. David Siddle passed away, aged 78, in 2006, but Sheila has continued the work they commenced together, and is now assisted by Managing Director Tony Rauch, a veteran ranch and livestock manager with over 30 years experience in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“Virtual wild” enclosures

The sanctuary is now home to over 120 chimps who live in various social groups in the orphanage as well as 4 different enclosures. Thanks to the large expanse of land Chimfunshi occupies, 99 of the 123 chimpanzees are in free range enclosures in a “virtual wild” environment.

Other species rehabilitated at the orphanage have included antelopes, baboons, monkeys, tortoises, squirrels, bush babies, dogs and birds, and - the biggest of all - Billy the hippo, who was rescued in 1992 as a 10-day old orphaned calf and now weighs 1,500 lbs. To read Billy’s story click here.

Over 25 years helping animals

Chimfunshi celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2008, making it one of the oldest and largest chimpanzee sanctuaries in the world; Chimfunshi has pioneered and set the standards for many of the protocols and techniques used at sanctuaries around the world today. The refuge unveiled a new anniversary logo and merchandise collection to commemorate the occasion.



Baby boom

Population control at Chimfunshi is important. Most of the female chimpanzees at Chimfunshi are being implanted with birth control devices. 69 chimpanzees have been born at the sanctuary since it was founded; this baby boom strains the resources of the sanctuary and takes up valuable space. The Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (see below) is seeking to limit captive reproduction at all its member sanctuaries; sanctuary space across the African continent is valuable, and needed for other rescued chimpanzees still awaiting placement.

Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA)

Wild ape populations continue to decrease due to poaching, the bushmeat trade and deforestation, while the number of orphaned primates has increased. PASA is an umbrella organization that was formed in 2000 to help coordinate the efforts of 18 African sanctuaries, including Chimfunshi, which is a charter member of PASA. These facilities house more than 800 great apes. One of PASA's goals is to reintroduce primates to the natural environment.

In 2003, Chimfunshi hosted, at its Education Center, PASA’s annual Education Workshop. Now, in May 2009, PASA has held its first ever US-based Workshop in Columbus, OH; Sheila Siddle travelled to the US to attend the event, and took advantage of her trip to speak at several zoos in the US Midwest. In Chicago she offered a lecture to employees of the Lincoln Park Zoo. The Zoo supports PASA’s efforts through research guidance and financial assistance.

Lincoln Park Zoo is assisting PASA with predicting the future population size of sanctuary apes, and managing the risk of disease spread both in sanctuaries and in reintroduction efforts. (Watch for a follow-up story on the Zoo’s work in this field).

For more information

Read more about Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage at www.chimfunshi.org.za/.

Watch a brief Chimfunshi video provided courtesy of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage.

How you can help

Click here to learn more about a Chimfunshi membership.

Support the care and rehabilitation of one of Chimfunshi’s youngest chimps through their Adopt-A-Chimp program.

Read, In My Family Tree, Sheila Siddle’s autobiography.

Lead photo by Magdalena Lukasik-Braum

Story photo & video courtesy of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

Posted by Candace Ritz – International Team Leader