Tacugama

As Sierra Leone celebrates unity through music, Tacugama joins the rhythm of #OneLove. Our national symbol — the chimpanzee — proudly welcomes our Jamaican brothers and sisters! Reggae meets Bubu, culture meets conservation. 🎶🐵🌿 #OneNationReggaeFestival

The world has lost a fine human. Jane Goodall the world’s foremost primatologist has died. She was 91. She championed animal rights, preservation and conversation across the world. In #SierraLeone she was instrumental in the founding of @tacugama sanctuary for chimps and the rise of environmentalism nationwide. Over the 30 years Jane has continued to support the local org through the @janegoodallinst. She’ll be greatly missed by Bala and everyone at Tacugama for whom she was a North Star. Jane visited Sierra Leone in her 2019. As a result the chimpanzee was declared Sierra Leone’s national animal, a move that strengthened protection and boosted sustainable tourism. She was awarded Sierra Leone’s highest honor, the Order of the Rokel, for her dedication to the country’s biodiversity and the sanctuary. May her soul rest in peace. #janegoodall #restinpeace

Remembering Dr. Jane Goodall - A Global Icon and Sierra Leone's Conservation Champion The world has lost a giant of conservation. Dr. Jane Goodall, the renowned #primatologist and tireless advocate for wildlife, has died at the age of 91. She passed away of natural causes while on a speaking tour in California, according to the Jane Goodall Institute. For #SierraLeone, her death feels deeply personal. She was not only a global voice for animals but also a guiding force in shaping our conservation journey. Her legacy is forever tied to the @Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the adoption of the Western chimpanzee as our national animal. Born in London on April 3, 1934, #JaneGoodall rose to prominence in the 1960s for her pioneering research in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Her studies revealed tool use, emotional bonds, and complex societies among chimpanzees. This work redefined humanity’s understanding of our closest relatives. She went on to establish the Jane Goodall Institute @JaneGoodallInst in 1977, expanding her work from research to global conservation and community empowerment. Goodall’s relationship with Sierra Leone began in the early 1990s. She encouraged Bala and Sharmila Amarasekaran to set up Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Freetown. Despite the turmoil of civil war, the sanctuary opened in 1995. Tacugama has since grown into a regional leader in conservation, rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees and running programmes in education, ecotourism, and community health. Sierra Leone is home to around 5,500 wild Western chimpanzees about 10 percent of the global population. Their survival owes much to Goodall’s vision and the sanctuary’s tireless work. Goodall’s most memorable moment here came in 2019, during her first visit in 27 years. She was received as a hero, toured Tacugama, and was awarded the Order of the Rokel by President @julius_maadabio. During the same visit, the government declared the Western chimpanzee Sierra Leone’s national animal. This symbolic move highlighted the importance of protecting wildlife as part of national identity and as a driver of #ecotourism. The visit also inspired wider policies, including visa-on-arrival measures to attract visitors and commitments to expand protected areas. Goodall’s influence did not fade. She remained active in supporting Tacugama and Sierra Leone’s conservation efforts, including speaking at the sanctuary’s 30th anniversary event in London in 2025. She called for urgent action on climate change, habitat loss, and the role of young people in shaping a sustainable future. Her passing leaves a void, but her spirit lives on in the forests of Sierra Leone and in the global movement she built. As President Bio said during her 2019 visit, “Jane Goodall’s work reminds us that protecting our wildlife is protecting our future.” For Sierra Leone, the best tribute to her memory is to continue protecting the Western chimpanzee, our national emblem, and to carry forward her vision of living in harmony with nature. Rest in peace, Dr. Jane Goodall. Your footprints will remain with us. #SaloneX

Big win for conservation and eco-tourism. On August 26th, 2025, Minister @JiwohA joined partners at @Tacugama to break ground on a 360-meter canopy walkway—made possible with support from @UNDPSierraLeone More below 👇

@UNDPSierraLeone is proud to support a transformative milestone in 🇸🇱’s ec0-torurism journey! Today, we broke ground for a 360m canopy walkway at @Tacugama , boosting eco-tourism, biodiversity protection & environmental educ. This project will redefine the visitor experience with breath-taking views of the forest canopy. @FredAmpiah @ahunnaeziakonwa @UNDPAfrica @JiwohA

Happy World Chimpanzee Day 🇸🇱 🐒 Destination Sierra Leone proudly joins the global community in celebrating our precious national animal. As home to some of West Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees, we renew our commitment to protecting their habitats and preserving our rich biodiversity Let us all work together to protect and respect our chimps today and always #WorldChimpanzeeDay #EcoTourism #ProtectOurWildlife #SierraLeoneForNature @julius_maadabio @NabeelaTunis @Tacugama @pololikashvili @UNWTO @MoiceComm @VoyagesAfriq

Friends of Tacugama would you like to join in on our online auction or join us at our event on June 26th : book your ticket here tacuma.charityhive.co.uk tacugama.charityhive.co.uk/auction

Brilliant British actor and animal welfare advocate @PeterEgan6 will be hosting our 30th Anniversary Fundraiser on June 26th in London! 🌿 Keynote: Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE 🎟️ Tickets ➡️ tacugama.charityhive.co.uk/tickets/3/ 🌍 Bid on unique items ➡️ tacugama.charityhive.co.uk/auction

🇸🇱 VIDEO: Deforestation displaces chimps and puts water supply at risk in Sierra Leone At the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Freetown, two baby chimps in their caretakers' arms are unaware that deforestation and illegal building are threatening their habitat.

Sierra Leone’s top tourist site, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, has shut to visitors due to illegal building work nearby. Sky’s @YousraElbagir speaks to its founder, who warns that without US funding, recovery will be a struggle. trib.al/jFbXCZn

What do I love most about Sierra Leone? The natural landscapes are my favourite things. This #AfricaDay, I'm exploring this beautiful country & celebrating our successful 🇬🇧 🇸🇱 initiatives that drive sustainability. #GoFarGoTogether

🦅 Birdwatch Tour 🌱 Saturday January 25th What if we told you Tacugama isn’t just about chimps? There’s a world of feathered wonders waiting to be explored — and it comes with breakfast! 🍳✨ Book your tour today! #birdwatching #ecotourism

Don’t miss out! Our first 2025 newsletter drops TONIGHT! 🎉 ✨ 72 chimp health checks
🎉 National Animal Month highlights
💔 Meet Princess, our newest rescue Subscribe now at the bottom of our homepage at tacugama.com and start the year with us!

Perhaps Sierra Leone could consider rebranding from “Lion Mountains” to “Chimp Mountains.” This shift could emphasize conservation, protection, and promotion of our national animal. After all the mountains resemble a ‘crouching chimpanzee’. @PresidentBio @dsengeh @Tacugama

This Holiday Season: Give a Gift That Leaves a Mark!. Make your loved one the guardian of a rescued chimp. You will receive 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 as a special keepsake! ➡️ tacugama.com/product-catego… In the photo: Flavour 💚

From $10 to $100, your support on #GivingTuesday was truly heartwarming! Today, we’ve sent out Jackson Junior’s footprints via email to everyone who supported us on this special day. We hope it brings you joy, and thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!

Today is #𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺, a global day of giving. Donate €10 (or more) today, and we’ll send you a beautiful 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 of Jackson Junior 🐾 𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 – 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚! 💕.  tacugama.com/product/donati…

🌍 Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Honored with the 2024 Environmental Care Award 🌍 We are proud to announce that Tacugama’s founder, Bala Amarasekaran, has been awarded the 2024 Environmental Care Award by Shout Climate Change Africa.

Sierra Leone's Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, @NabeelaTunis November's message in the Tourism for All Campaign themed: Wildlife Conservation and Communities @PresidentBio @pololikashvili @Tacugama @touristboardsl @VoyagesAfriq @MoiceComm

We're thrilled to be featured in JRNY Africa's latest article, "30 of the Best Experiences to Have on the African Continent". A huge thank you to #JRNY Africa and long-time Tacugama supporter Sue Watt for shining a spotlight on our work. ➡️ issuu.com/jrnymag.com/do…