Sheila Siddle's Campaign to Support Chimfunshi

In 1971, my Late Husband David and I, Sheila Siddle, were excited to be planning our retirement.  A spot overlooking the River with wide open spaces was my husband’s dream.  And that is exactly what we found. In September that year, we bought and moved into a small fishing shack that later became the Chimfunshi Orphanage.

Retirement never happened as we then bought the farm next door, and during the first 12 years, we built chicken sheds, bred cattle and herds of sheep. Farming life was good and exhausting, maybe not always easy as we thought, but we were happy.

The 18th of October of 1983, while celebrating our wedding anniversary, my husband and I received our first dying chimp, a chimp we named Pal. The first few months of Pal´s life with us were not easy, he was extremely weak and not in good shape. However the long hours of caring for him paid off, and within the next year we received almost 12 more chimps, all in suffering conditions. 

Many people thought we would fail for not having any science background. But my husband and I never gave up and we took each new day as a learning day. Oh! It was not easy! The mini escapes from the first home-built enclosure of our lounge, the tiresome hours of bottle feeding, long daily walks in the bush, ensuring the chimps’ balanced diet, …

Days turned into weeks, and then into years. Thirty-seven years and here we are, the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, home of 140 chimps.

We could not have achieved this without your love and generosity. The support of all our workers who stood by us caring for each and every chimp. The many great and wonderful people who supported us in all the possible ways. Support that has kept us going for the last 37 years, 37 years of passionate and tireless work.  With a special thanks to Mr. Sebastian Louis and his Late brother Stephan for the many years of continuous support. Without you we would have never made it.

Oh yes, we have had our ups and downs, but we never thought of giving up. We couldn’t give up, even if we wanted to, as there were not many other sanctuaries giving chimps in need the second chance they deserved. 

For you Chimfunshi might be a chimpanzee sanctuary, but for me, Chimfunshi is also still my home, the place where I have the fondest of memories, where I found my happiness. 

In a few days, the 8th of October, I will be turning 89. Yes, it is my birthday! And I, Sheila Siddle, founder of Chimfunshi, am appealing for your support. Together we change lives. There are so many chimps out there waiting for their second chance, waiting to come to Chimfunshi.

As small birthday gift for the chimps and I, could you spare a $5 and share my message with your friends and family?

Thank you everyone from my heart.
Sheila Siddle

“CHIMPANZEES HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH PAIN AND TRAUMA AT THE HANDS OF THE HUMANS.

YET THEY STILL HAVE THE GRACE TO FORGIVE US”    Sheila Siddle

/// Please remember chimpanzees are NOT pets but wild animals. Orphan chimpanzees need surrogate figures until they are ready to be integrated into family groups in forested enclosures   ///