Home to over 106 critically endangered Western chimpanzees, Tacugama is actively involved in law enforcement to rescue and rehabilitate chimpanzees into their natural habitat. Chimps are often orphans, victims of the bushmeat trade, human-wildlife conflict, or the illegal wildlife trade. We provide a means for law enforcement to confiscate these animals, and a place for these rescued individuals to live out their lives. Chimps at Tacugama undergo 5 stages of rehabilitation, from quarantine to semi-wild habitats where they can roam among the treetops of theSierra Leonian rainforest.
About Us
Who We Are
Preserving Sierra Leone's Wildlife since 1995
Located just on the outskirts of Freetown, in the Western Area Peninsula National Park, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary was founded in 1995 by conservationist Bala Amarasekaran and his wife Sharmila. Initially established to enforce wildlife laws and rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered orphaned Western chimpanzees, Tacugama has grown into a diverse conservation organization.
Caring for close to 100 chimpanzees on-site, Tacugama is also actively engaged offsite in community outreach, wildlife field research, environmental sustainability, conservation education and alternative livelihoods programs.
Tacugama is also an eco-tourism hub for Freetown – home to 6 eco-lodges, and a variety of activities for both tourists and Freetowners alike to participate in.
Founding Member of PASA
The Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) is the largest association of wildlife centers in Africa. Tacugama is proud to be one of the original 7 founding members. PASA has now grown to 23 member organizations in 13 countries, securing a future for Africa’s primates and their habitat.
PASA is a collaboration of African sanctuaries, communities, governments and global experts working together to implement and support the conservation of forests, communities and primates. The combination of PASA’s global network and our members’ local expertise uniquely positions the Alliance to protect chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and monkeys from extinction.
Accredited by The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy
The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) is an opportunity for the Commonwealth family to unite to save one of the world’s most important natural habitats – forests. The QCC is committed to raising awareness of the value of indigenous forests and to saving them for future generations, creating a network of forest conservation projects across the 52 member countries of the Commonwealth, to act together as one to ensure forest conservation. It will use the Commonwealth network to facilitate a programme of knowledge exchange activities, share best practice and to create new, collaborative initiatives that contribute to forest conservation across the globe.
Launched in 2015, the QCC is a collaborative framework being led by the Royal Commonwealth Society, in partnership with Cool Earth and the Commonwealth Forestry Association.
Tacugama is honoured to be accredited by the QCC since 2017.
Chimpanzees
Eco-Lodges
Acres
Why Choose Us?
Tacugama is actively involved in eco-tourism in Sierra Leone. Guests can come for sanctuary tours, stay overnight in our eco-lodges, participate in hikes and birdwatching tours in the forest, and participate in one of our many cross-cultural events.
All proceeds from our eco-tourism ventures go directly to the animals and our conservation programs.
As part of our greater mission, the Tacugama Conservation Outreach Programme (TCOP) is actively engaged in communities around the country. We work with local communities to protect the wildlife and forests in their region, and in return provide them with livelihoods services and education programs. We are also doing research in these communities and around the country to survey biodiversity and best serve the local inhabitants.
Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Programme (TKEEP) is in a wide range of schools around Freetown, as well as in our community programs. Through these programs, media involvement, sanctuary tours, and our eco-tourism programs, our goal is to spread environmental education across Sierra Leone and globally. By promoting a greater stewardship of our environment amongst the local population, we hope to create a new generation of individuals who are working to create a better world.
Meet Our Team
Tacugama has more than 30 full-time staff members who are all integral to the work we do.
Instagram Feed
Our outreach team is collaborating with @wildchimpanzeefoundation to protect the Outamba Kilimi National Park (OKNP) in Sierra Leone, and its- Big support for baby Caesar and his friends all the way from The Netherlands Last weekend the parents of Benjamin
- Farewell beautiful Zack This week we had to say goodbye to Zack. Zack came to Tacugama at the age of
- Five years ago today Freetown was shocked to the news of a horrific mudslide that took place in the outskirts
- A very good morning from Mamma P, Mini Winnie and all of us at Tacugama At the moment we are
- When the food is just to good to share, you run like Molly!
- Friday Mood at Tacugama Video by @rowenagoesape
- When you realize it’s only Wednesday
- Baby Milo is getting more independent every day, but auntie Lola is always close to him to keep him safe.
- Good morning friends! Let your week be filled with #chimpspiration What is your favorite inspirational quote? Let us know in
- Every night, wild chimpanzees build themselves nests and tuck themselves in for a good night's sleep. By the morning they're
- A very good morning from Solo junior and all of us at Tacugama Photo by Hayley Lewis
- // We are hiring // GIS Officer for the Outamba, Kilimi, Kuru Hills, Pinseli – Soya Project (OKKPS) Field Education
- Congo Dam is located next to our sanctuary in the Western Area Peninsula National Park. It is a vital watershed
- A big THANK YOU to all our friends who supported our rangers this #worldrangerday All donations will be used to
- Happy World Ranger Day Today we celebrate and honor the vital work of the heroes of wildlife conservation worldwide. This
- The wild chimpanzees of Loma Mountains National Park Tomorrow is #worldrangerday ! Help us to protect the wild chimpanzees in #sierraleone
- Just 2 days to go untill World Ranger Day! This whole week we honor our rangers and highlight their vital
- We are still in a bit of denial, but this week it is really happening. Two amazing hard working woman
- This is Loma Mountains National Park For last year’s Giving Day For Apes we fundraised for the protection of Loma
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