Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue

To volunteer for the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue, call 971-544-7772 or email info@sanaga-yong.org

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue is a wildlife sanctuary located near the Sanaga River in Cameroon. They rescue, rehabilitate, and care for chimpanzees that have been orphaned or confiscated from illegal wildlife trade and poaching. They also work on chimpanzee habitat protection, law enforcement, and conservation education programs.

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue is located in Portland, Oregon.

Strong maturing males with big personalities (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Key Takeaways

* Rescues chimpanzees from illegal pet trade and situations of danger or orphaning. The sanctuary is open to volunteers.

* Provide immediate medical attention to rescued chimpanzees, and reintroduce rehabilitated chimpanzees back into their natural environment.

* Collaborates with local communities, schools, and government bodies to raise awareness about chimpanzee conservation and combat illegal wildlife trade.

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue: Mission

They provide sanctuary for chimpanzee orphans in Cameroon. Also, they support chimpanzee habitat protection, law enforcement, and conservation education programs. Here’s how they are helping:

Little Bouamir is tired after a fun-filled day (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue is working in collaboration with Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF). They collaborate with the government to protect the habitat of chimpanzees, gorillas, and other endangered wildlife.
They provide a permanent sanctuary for confiscated chimpanzees, thereby enabling enforcement of laws against trafficking.
They currently care for over 70 chimpanzees, ranging in age from three to over 50 years.
They educate and sensitize populations about the importance of conservation, with an emphasis on primary school children.
They increase the engagement of local people through employment opportunities and programs that improve their lives.

Chimpanzee caregiver Giselle poses with Kolbi (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

SYCR Sanctuary

The Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center is located in Cameroon’s Mbargue Forest. It provides a permanent, natural home for chimpanzees rescued from the bushmeat, pet, and zoo trades.

Founded in 1999, the sanctuary spans 225 acres and currently cares for 76 chimpanzees aged between 2 and 50 years. The chimps live in enclosed forest areas from 1.3 to 20 acres and sleep in large protected shelters nearby.

The sanctuary supports authorities in confiscating and transporting chimpanzees involved in illegal trade.

The grounds include eight enclosures, cabins for volunteers and visitors, a veterinary clinic, diagnostic lab, education center, management office, and camp kitchen for staff and meetings.

Twenty-three-year-old Manni loves avocados (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue: How They Work

Rescue and Rehabilitation

Every chimpanzee’s journey at Sanaga-Yong starts with a rescue. Many arrive as orphans or victims of the illegal pet trade. The team provides immediate medical care and a safe, calm environment to help them recover from both physical injuries and emotional trauma.

Jimi is 22 years old chimpanzee — Jimi is 22 years old and a member of Amigo’s group (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

A Safe Haven in the Rainforest

The sanctuary’s large forest enclosures closely resemble the chimpanzees’ natural habitat. Here, they can climb, forage, and socialize freely, key behaviors that support their physical and emotional recovery.

As they move from captivity to freedom, each chimp learns to live and interact naturally in the forest, an essential step toward a healthy, enriched life.

Building Bonds through Care

Caregivers, often referred to as “surrogate mothers,” play a pivotal role in the rehabilitation journey. They provide round-the-clock care, ensuring the chimps regain their trust in humans and form healthy social bonds with both their caregivers and fellow chimpanzees.

Gabby (sitting) got distracted while grooming Stanley (lying down) (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

The Road to Reintegration

As chimpanzees progress through their rehabilitation, the ultimate goal is reintroduction into the wild. This delicate process involves acclimating them to the forest environment, honing their survival skills, and closely monitoring their adaptation.

Chimpanzee seated with her arms folded and resting her head! — A classic Simossa pose – seated with her arms folded and resting her head! (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Conservation Efforts by SYCR

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue (SYCR) leads several key conservation initiatives focused on law enforcement, habitat protection, and education.

Long, comforting hug of two chimpanzees — A long, comforting hug (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

They provide permanent sanctuary for chimpanzees rescued from illegal trade and offer technical support to authorities during confiscations.
In partnership with government and community leaders, SYCR helped establish the Wall-Mbargue Wildlife Refuge to protect endangered species and stop poaching in the surrounding forest.
They sponsor a sustainable agriculture and agroforestry project to restore farmland and reduce slash-and-burn practices.
Their visitor and outreach programs raise awareness about chimpanzees’ intelligence, emotions, and the laws protecting them.
SYCR also created a children’s book, Je Protège les Chimpanzés (I Protect the Chimpanzees), now used in Cameroon schools to teach respect and compassion for these endangered primates.

Chimpanzees eating banana — Alice (left) has a banana that Cindy (middle) and Lucy (right) are admiring (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue: Community Development

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue works closely with local communities, schools, and government agencies to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. Their outreach focuses on education, awareness, and advocacy to reduce the demand for the illegal wildlife trade.

They also support local development. They employ community members at the sanctuary, fund a sustainable agriculture project to improve farm productivity and children’s nutrition, and promote childhood literacy by helping pay the salaries of eight local teachers.

By improving lives and providing education, Sanaga-Yong builds a stronger connection between people and wildlife conservation.

Feeding youngest chimps baby milk formula (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Ways to Support the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue

Your support matters, no matter the form it takes. Every contribution directly contributes to the well-being, rehabilitation, and protection of these incredible creatures. If you’re passionate about the well-being of chimpanzees and want to make a positive impact, there are several meaningful ways you can contribute to the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue:

Chimoanzee eating banana — Banana love! (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Donate

Your direct financial contribution can make a significant difference in providing medical care, food, and enrichment for rescued chimpanzees. Donating is a simple yet impactful way to support their rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

Chimoanzee looking serene and a little bashful — Utah (oo-tah) looking serene and a little bashful (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Volunteer

Volunteering at SYCR is a wonderful way to contribute to wildlife conservation and the well-being of chimpanzees. This incredibly rewarding experience provides the exclusive opportunity to live in Africa, learn from highly skilled staff, and care for rescued chimpanzees!

Monthly Giving

Consider becoming a monthly donor to provide consistent support for the ongoing care and rehabilitation of chimpanzees. Monthly giving helps sustain the rescue’s operations and ensures a brighter future for these endangered animals.

Twenty-two-year-old Emma is incredibly beautiful and photogenic (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Adopt An Orphan

By adopting a chimpanzee orphan, you contribute to their well-being, including food, medical care, and enrichment activities. It’s a unique way to forge a personal connection with a specific chimpanzee and follow their journey to recovery. Your compassion, dedication and donations make their rescue and care possible!

Chimpanzee laughs with delight as his caregiver Giselle tickles him — Ndem laughs with delight as his caregiver Giselle tickles him (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Dorothy’s Circle: Legacy Giving

Leave a lasting legacy by including the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue in your estate planning. Your legacy gift can help secure the future of chimpanzee conservation and rehabilitation.

Fourteen-year-old female chimp is looking strong, healthy and beautiful — Fourteen-year-old female Selma is looking strong, healthy and beautiful (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Non-Cash Donations: Stocks, Bonds & Mutual Funds

If you have non-cash assets like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, consider donating them to support the rescue’s mission. Your gift will support the work of Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue (SYCR). This type of donation can have tax benefits for you while contributing to the rescue’s work.

Youngest chimps having baby milk formula — The youngest chimps having baby milk formula (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

BottleDrop Give Recycling Program

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue has joined the Oregon BottleDrop Give program! And you can help by simply collecting your beverage containers (with an Oregon refund value) and recycling them through your local BottleDrop Redemption Center. It’s an eco-friendly way to support chimpanzee conservation while recycling.

Rescued babies enjoy milk and avocados with their caregivers (Photo Courtesy of SYCR)

Follow Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue on Social Media

Website: https://www.sychimprescue.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanagayongchimpanzeerescue/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanagayongchimpanzeerescue/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sanagayongchimps?

X: https://x.com/SYChimpRescue

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sanagayongchimpanzeerescue

$ Donate: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/Sanaga-YongChimpanzeeRescue/donation-1.html

Key Takeaways

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue: Mission

SYCR Sanctuary