fundraiser
Health checks & secure transport units
$0 Raised
$12,196 raised by 93 donors
42% complete
$29,000 Goal
In 2012, Drakenstein Lion Park in South Africa welcomed three chimpanzees, Chicco, Emma, and Charlie, after the closure of a local zoo. For more than a decade, the park has provided them with safety, care, and love. Now, as Drakenstein focuses on rescuing more big cats and requires additional space for these species, it is time for the chimps to begin the next chapter of their lives. Their journey will take them to Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia, where they will finally have the chance to thrive in a spacious, natural forested habitat, a true forever home.
This Great Ape Giving Day, you can be part of their rescue.
Chicco is a 41-year-old male who has experienced a life of upheaval and loss. He was taken from a laboratory, a place of confinement and suffering, and brought to a zoo in the Netherlands. He was then transferred to another zoo, and his journey continued as he moved once more, this time to a zoo in South Africa. However, even after returning to Africa he found no true sanctuary, only temporary refuge. Thankfully, Lion’s Rescue stepped in in 2012 to offer him a glimmer of hope and a place to finally call home.
Despite his age and size, Chicco is gentle in spirit; he is not the typical alpha male you might expect. Instead, he bears the quiet weight of a long, tumultuous life. His days are filled with small, compulsive routines, such as obsessively cleaning under the electric fence, perhaps seeking comfort in familiar habits amid the chaos of his existence.
Chicco’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of how many chimpanzees endure relentless displacement and loneliness. Behind his majestic appearance lies a soul yearning for stability and peace, and above all, understanding. His life calls on us to remember the silent tragedies faced by so many animals who long for freedom, dignity and a place to truly belong.
Emma, a female of only 22, carries the weight of a life shaped by loss and displacement. Born in captivity but not raised by her mother she live for few years in a South African zoo that closed its doors in 2012, and so her world was abruptly turned upside down. When the zoo closed, Lion’s Rescue opened its arms, providing her with a new home with some hope.
Emma is profoundly an intelligent chimpanzee, her memory sharp and her trust deep. Yet, her gentle spirit is fragile, craving kindness and reassurance. She treasures positive, caring interactions. But her past leaves scars that linger, and her need for gentle, compassionate connection is more urgent than ever.
Imagine a life where innocence is interrupted by hardship, where trust must be earned anew, and where every act of kindness can become a beacon of hope.
Charlie is an 18-year-old male chimpanzee who has spent his entire life in a zoo in South Africa. Born and hand-reared in an unsuitable environment, he was moved to Lion's Rescue Centre with Emma and Chicco when the zoo closed in 2012.
He is Emma's brother and a gentle soul who has always found comfort in life's simple pleasures. He finds solace in his beloved blankets, often curling up completely when he naps — his way of seeking safety and warmth in a world that has often been unkind to him. Despite his quiet demeanour, Charlie's thoughtful and easy-going nature shines through in his playful interactions. He delights in bartering for items, revealing a charming and unique personality that endears him to everyone who gets to know him.
Moving him to a forest enclosure with new chimpanzees will allow him to experience new joys and play with different individuals, which he is sure to enjoy.
For Chicco, Emma, and Charlie, arriving at Chimfunshi means:
Most importantly, they will have safety, dignity, and the freedom to simply be what they were always meant to be: chimpanzees.
Support Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT)
Organization name
Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust
Tax id (EIN)
65-0261499
Categories
Environment , Animals , Community
Address
PO BOX 11190 Off T5 (Solwezi Road), Chingola, Zambia