DONATE
 

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue's Largest Family!

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue's Largest Family!

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue’s Largest Family!

Jacky's group is the largest at In Defense of Animals - Africa’s Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue. These 20 chimpanzees spend their days in a lush 20-acre enclosure of natural forest deep in Cameroon’s Eastern Province.

While the group is named after Jacky, he is no longer the alpha male. Jacky is now over 50 years old and affectionately called the "grand-père" (grandfather) of Sanaga-Yong. He is respected by all and enjoys life without the responsibilities that come with being the one in charge.

Who is the alpha male of Jacky's group, you ask?

Some staff say that 17-year-old Simon reigns court (pictured third row, all the way to the right), but others say that 16-year-old Future (third row, second from left) is the alpha. Future arrived at Sanaga-Yong in May of 2001 after Ofir Drori, the founder and director of The Last Great Ape (LAGA) organization, saved him from Cameroon’s bushmeat trade. Drori named this baby chimpanzee Future because it was what he wanted to give him and his species: a future.

Here's a list of everyone pictured…

Top row: Alice (f), Cindy (f), Hope (f), Luke (m), Niete (f)
Row 2: Bikol (m), Emma (f), Jacky (m), Mado (f), Njabeya (f)
Row 3: Bouboule (m), Future (m), Leila (f), Moabi (m), Simon (m)
Row 4 (bottom): Caroline (f), Gabby (m), Lucy (f), Mowgli (m), Stanley (m)

Please consider supporting our work with a life saving donation.

All photos courtesy of Assistant Manager Sandra Casti

DONATE