Akatia

The Akatia Association is a non-governmental organization founded in 2017 by Estelle Raballand and Sarah Crawford. It is a symbol of hope for the endangered primates of Côte d'Ivoire and for the Ivorian forests.

As part of its collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Forests, Akatia has been granted two forest plots in the heart of the classified forests of Yapo-Abbé and Comoé 1, covering 4,500 hectares and 1,200 hectares respectively.

These forests are home to exceptional biodiversity, including pangolins, snakes of all colors, and primates. They are ideal sites for the release of its young monkeys, in particular.              

Akatia is becoming not only a refuge for these threatened beings, but also a driving force for broader biodiversity conservation.

Our presence in protected forests and our forest protection efforts allow us to preserve and monitor wild primate populations. By supporting Akatia, you are helping not only the primates rescued from trafficking, but also those still living freely in the forest.

But Akatia is also made up of six caregivers and volunteers who work daily in the field to make these missions possible.

Every donation made on October 7, 2025, in honor of the Giving Day for Apes, significantly strengthens Akatia’s resources. Your support is vital for the well-being of our chimpanzees and small monkeys — from young orphans to adult survivors who have found refuge with us — as well as for our teams who live in the forest year-round.

By supporting Akatia on the Giving Day for Apes, you are directly contributing to the care, rehabilitation, and future of chimpanzees and small monkeys in Cote d’Ivoire. You are also helping to create job opportunities for young people in nearby villages and to boost the local economy.

The association’s monthly operating costs are around $8,000, a small amount for a sanctuary, but a big one for our small project. Every donation has a meaningful impact and helps keep the sanctuary a safe haven for Côte d’Ivoire’s great apes.

Show us that solidarity and collective action can make a difference to pave the way—together—towards a better and more sustainable future for Côte d’Ivoire and its incredible wildlife.