Sheila & David Siddles' dream for Sudan Group

"We always dreamed of giving them more space and allowing them to behave as much like chimps in the wild as possible.”

- Sheila and Dave Siddle, Founders of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust

Sheila and Dave Siddle, my loving parents and the Founders of Chimfunshi wildlife orphanage trust, vowed to strive to give as much space and freedom to each of the chimpanzee groups at Chimfunshi, to allow them to express natural chimp behaviours, like foraging for wild fruits, nest building and territory patrols.

Last year we received a further three chimpanzees, rescued from terrible conditions and given a new lease of life at Chimfunshi. 

Thanks to your help last Giving day for Apes, we were able to successfully integrate these three young chimps into our Sudan Group.

Before Chimfunshi

The recently integrated, Sudan Group still live here at the Orphanage. Their enclosure of just 0.5 hectares is much smaller than we would like for 11 chimps. 

Fidelou & Aimee Love, safe at Chimfunshi

This year we want to make my parents dream a reality for this group.

The 8th of October was Sheila, my mothers’ birthday. Sadly she won’t be here to celebrate it, but we can still help to make her dream a reality. By ensuring all 155 of the chimpanzees rescued and nurtured by Sheila, ensuring they live as wild a life as possible in captivity, we need to raise the funds to make this a reality.

Sheila in front of the Sudan Group enclosure

The 18th of October of 1983, while celebrating their wedding anniversary, my parents received our first dying chimp, a chimp we named Pal. The first few months of Pal´s life with us were not easy, he was extremely weak and not in good shape. However the long hours of caring for him paid off, and within the next year we received almost 12 more chimps, all in suffering conditions.

41 years and 155 rescued chimpanzees later, Chimfunshi is the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. 130 of our 155 chimps live in sprawling enclosures, immersed in the Miombo forest, although much of the footage you might see of the Chimfunshi chimps is at feeding time, this is just an opportunity for our dedicated keepers to health check and monitor the chimps, the rest of their days are spent freely wandering in to 80 hectares of land, climbing trees, foraging, playing and lounging.

Aimi - Sudan Group

We want all our chimpanzees to experience this freedom and as wild an existence as possible, here in Zambia.

Sheila and Dave may no longer be with us, but her legacy lives on in the lives of us all at Chimfunshi. I, Sylvia Jones, daughter of the founders of Chimfunshi, am appealing for your support in the honor of my wonderful parents.

In honor of Sheila's birthday and her thirty-nine years giving home to chimpanzees in need and nurturing them back to life; and teaching us how to be compassionate with all beings.

With a special thanks to Mr. Sebastian Louis and his Late brother Stephan for the many years of continuous support. Without you we would have never made it.

Here’s how your contribution—whether large or small - can make a meaningful impact in creating a better home for the Sudan Group.

Some of our Sudan Group stars!

Here’s what your gift can achieve

$50 – Chimp Enrichment
Your gift provides essential enrichment tools, such as climbing ropes, platforms, and toys, to keep the chimps engaged and stimulated in their new space.

$100 – Tree Planting and Habitat Restoration
This level helps plant trees and restore the natural habitat within the enclosure, providing the chimps with shade, foraging opportunities, and a more natural environment.

$250 – Fencing Materials
Your donation helps purchase fencing materials to ensure the chimps' new enclosure is secure, providing them with a safe, expanded area to roam.

$500 – Water Infrastructure
This level supports the installation of water stations and irrigation systems in the new enclosure, ensuring the chimps have access to fresh water and a sustainable ecosystem.

$1,000 – Land Clearing and Preparation
A donation at this level contributes to the clearing and preparation of land, creating a vast, natural space for the Sudan Group to explore and thrive.

$2,500 – Construction of Night Shelters
This tier helps fund the construction of night shelters, where the chimps can safely rest each evening, crucial for their comfort and security.

$5,000 – Foundation for the New Enclosure
At the $5,000 level, your gift lays the foundation for the new enclosure, bringing us one step closer to completing the project and giving the Sudan Group the space they need to live more naturally.

Please share my message and my mother's legacy with your friends and family this Giving Day for Apes

Thank you everyone from my heart,

Sylvia Jones - daughter of the Late Founders Sheila & Dave Siddle