Help the Chimpanzees of Sanaga-Yong

I had the opportunity to visit Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue in July 2017 and spent a week with Founder and Director, Dr. Sheri Speede.   The Sanctuary, located deep within the Mbargue Forest in Cameroon, provides a safe haven for orphaned chimpanzees due to illegal bushmeat trade. Chimpanzees and gorillas are endangered in Cameroon and Sanaga-Yong plays a critical role in strengthening and supporting efforts to improve communities, protect forests and educate young people to be future wildlife stewards. It's a remarkable place and Dr. Sheri Speede has devoted 20+ years to care and protect chimpanzees and conservation efforts in Cameroon.

While Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue has adapted and found ways to mitigate the dangers of rescuing and caring for chimpanzees during the pandemic, COVID-19 has threatened their critical work in other ways far from the sanctuary grounds. 

The sanctuary had to cancel all in-person events this year, which is how they typically fund up to a quarter of their annual operations budget. In addition to event cancellations, some of the foundations that provide hefty grants also had to curtail their giving for 2020. On top of decreased funding, supply chain interruptions in Cameroon have also created scarcity and increased prices of critical medications and necessary supplies required to keep the sanctuary operating. Now more than ever, Sanaga-Yong needs our help to continue their work. 

As a member of Sanaga-Yong's Board, I know how important volunteers and supporters are in the framework that helps the sanctuary operate smoothly. Due to the pandemic, the volunteer program had to come to a complete stop for several months, and is now receiving very few applications after Cameroon's borders tentatively reopened. Even in a pandemic, the sanctuary staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure the chimpanzees receive the highest quality of care without compromise. 

Your donation for Giving Day for Apes will go directly to the care of the chimpanzees and help Sanaga-Yong provide:

1. Four daily meals of fresh fruits, vegetables and necessary staples for good health
2. Highly skilled veterinary care
3. Critical medications, daily vitamins and baby milk formula
4. Dedicated and experienced caregivers
5. Meticulously maintained, secure enclosures that include natural habitat forest

While the sanctuary faces unexpected and unprecedented challenges this year, their commitment to their 76 rescued chimpanzees is as strong as ever. I have every confidence that the sanctuary will never let the chimpanzees down, and their dedication to programs ensuring the future of free-living chimpanzees, gorillas and other endangered wildlife has not faltered one bit. 

Thank you for joining me in supporting Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue!

Sincerely, Pam Hokanson