TCS was established in 1995 to rehabilitate confiscated, orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees while enforcing the law to prevent further exploitation. Although it is illegal to hunt, capture, kill trade or own chimpanzees in Sierra Leone, sadly such practices still continue.
Sierra Leone is home to the Western Chimpanzee subspecies (Pan troglodytes ssp. verus) which are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and holds the third highest population after Guinea and Liberia. The future for wild chimpanzees is uncertain as they face a high risk of becoming extinct.
TCS now cares for over 80 chimpanzees in several forested enclosures, has a well-equipped veterinary clinic, and is actively involved in educating the national and international community about chimpanzee conservation. In 2011, we developed the Tacugama Community Outreach Program (TCOP), to implement community conservation projects, improve sustainable resource practices, and further protect the natural habitat of Western chimpanzees.
At TCS, we conduct a range of community development, education and sensitisation programmes; law enforcement and reforestation initiatives; sustainable livelihood and ecotourism projects; and operate a dynamic volunteer and internship program.
TCS works with 47 communities within three districts: Western Area District, Moyamba District and Pujehun District; and in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), and local police, among other institutions.
TCS community projects are helping to raise awareness of and reduce illegal activities, such as bush-meat hunting, the wildlife pet trade and resource harvesting in protected and unprotected areas. Our ecotourism projects engage visitors in wildlife conservation and provide a unique opportunity for visitors to see and learn about chimpanzee behaviour, biology and conservation.
Research is also an important component of our work and in 2010, TCS completed the most comprehensive chimpanzee census ever conducted in Sierra Leone. Our volunteer, internship and research programs enable TCS to continue this valuable work while providing students with practical and educational experiences to further their career opportunities.
TCS is an UK registered charity (number 1153204) and is an accredited member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA). The site is located on 40 hectares (100 acres) of land within the Western Area Peninsular National Park, in the Western Area District of Sierra Leone, just outside the capital city of Freetown.
