Support orphaned and wild Chimpanzees in Uganda

At Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, we continue to witness the power of kindness and collective action. Your generous contributions through the GlobalGiving platform have played a crucial role in shaping a brighter, healthier, and more compassionate world for our 54 resident chimpanzees.

Thanks to your support, we’ve made tremendous progress over the last few months. Here’s a glimpse of what your donations have helped us achieve:

1.0 Nourishment with Purpose: Feeding Our Family

Feeding 54 chimpanzees is no small task—but thanks to you, it’s a daily reality. Each day, our chimps enjoy four carefully balanced meals. We transport fresh produce—cassava, jackfruit, tomatoes, onions, okra—and protein-rich eggs across Lake Victoria by boat to reach the sanctuary. Dry rations like millet, soy, and cornmeal are also prepared with love and care.

Each meal shared is a symbol of the life-saving impact you make possible.

2.0 Enrichment for Healthy Minds and Happy Hearts

Comfort and mental stimulation are essential for chimpanzee well-being. With your support:

• We provided over 3,000 bundles of hay to support natural nesting behavior.
• We repaired and replaced hammocks in the holding facility, giving our chimps cozy places to rest.
• Honey and peanuts were introduced to promote natural tool use and foraging, helping reduce stress-related behaviors like hair plucking and coprophagy.

These simple things make a world of difference.

3.0 Compassionate Veterinary Care

Your generosity continues to fund daily veterinary care. Over the past three months:

• 14 minor and 2 major injuries were treated successfully, most resulting from social dynamics—especially during mating season and food competition.
• Our elderly chimp, Maisko, showed signs of weakness and was promptly treated and is now recovering well.
• Chimps above 30 years of age are receiving monthly multivitamins to support their immune systems.

Every treatment is a step toward healing—thanks to you.

4.0 A New Life Joins the Family

In August 2024, we celebrated a new beginning: Sophie gave birth to a healthy baby. Thanks to patient care and integration, the little one is now fully accepted into the group—another success story that you helped write.

5.0 Securing Their Sanctuary: Fence Repairs

Our sanctuary recently faced challenges with the perimeter fence due to strong winds. With your support, we swiftly reinforced weak sections using galvanized poles and welded panels, preventing escape risks and ensuring safety for both chimps and staff.

6.0 Inspiring the Future: Conservation Education

We know the future of chimpanzees lies not just on Ngamba Island, but in the hearts of communities across Uganda. That’s why conservation awareness remains a core focus:

• A borehole was completed in Karuswiga to provide clean water and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Hydrological surveys were conducted for a second borehole in Kagadi district.
• Biodiversity monitoring took place in Itohya and Mparangasi forests.
• Two school outreach programs reached over 200 students with educational materials and wildlife conservation messages.

These efforts create a ripple effect—educating and empowering the next generation of conservationists.

Links:

• Learn more about our chimpanzees

The GlobalGiving Foundation has played a pivotal role in mobilizing financial resources to support the operations of the sanctuary. The finances received through global Giving are used to enhance the welfare of the rescued and orphaned chimpanzees at the sanctuary. The funds are used to provide a balanced diet and to maintain the health of the chimpanzees.  

Chimpanzee Health

Chimpanzees at the sanctuary have been maintained health through prompt intervention when there was disease outbreaks in the community and when a few chimps sustained minor injuries.

Chimpanzees that are 30 years and above were given multivitamin supplements to boost their immunity. This has kept the aging individuals strong and less susceptible to infections.

As a routine prophylactic intervention, all the chimpanzees were given albendazole de-wormer to control worm infestation in the chimpanzee community

Chimpanzee feeding

The chimpanzees were fed on a balanced diet four times in a day at 8:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 6:00 pm. The fresh food including the vegetables, tubers and fruits were procured from local markets and delivered at the sanctuary after every 10 days. While dry rations items including maize, millet flour, soy flour and beans were procured and stocked on a quarterly basis.

The egg plants, sweet potatoes, cassava harvested from the sanctuary garden helped to minimize on chimpanzee feeding costs.

Chimpanzee enrichment

The chimpanzees received enrichment materials including hay that they used to pad the hammocks while nesting in the holding facility. In addition, the chimpanzees were provided with honey in termite mound and peanuts in puzzles to test their intelligence and minimize stress.

Chimpanzee behavioral and health monitoring  

Each chimpanzee at the sanctuary has an individual diary where information on their behavior and health status is recorded. The caregivers observed the chimpanzees’ social interactions during the feedings and took note of behaviors and health of the individual chimpanzees. The observation findings were recorded in the individual diary on a daily basis.