See also Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary

The albino chimp, named Pinkie, is accepted
into the chimp colony. One of the dominant males, Bruno, grooms the young chimp to demonstrate family bonding.

Sadly Pinkie died some months after this picture
was taken.

Bala Amarasekaran (far right) project director
has been with the chimps since the start of the project. All the chimps recognise their names,
and he also communicates with chimp calls.

Just over an hour's drive from Freetown, the Sanctuary protects rescued champs and has created a free and natural environment for them. Opened in 1995 with EU funding for a two-year pilot scheme the Sanctuary is now self-funding but in need of investment and help to develop its work.

Most of the animals have been rescued from the now-illegal practice of hunting, keeping them as pets or using them for street entertainment. They live free to lead their life in the wild - bounded by an electric fenced for their safety. New arrivals are quarantined and checked for illness, then they are introduced to the group. There are viewing paltforms to view the chimps but it is they who decide whether they want to see the visitors!

Males and females are separated because the Sanctuary cannot afford to introduce a breeding programme yet - but sometimes chimps find their own way in to escape from danger.