The largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa, its primary objective is to shelter and rehabilitate orphan chimpanzees confiscated by the local authorities in their fight against trafficking and poaching. 

The TCRC was established in 1992, just outside the Republic of Congo’s second city, Pointe Noire, through a cooperative agreement between the Jane Goodall Institute and the Government of Congo’s Ministère de l’Economie Forestière. Funds from the Great Ape Event in 2000 helped to support the development of the Centre, and were critical to its establishment and maintenance.

The Vision

However, since then the Congolese authorities have confiscated a steady flow of orphaned chimpanzees and the centre which was originally designed to accommodate up to 60 chimpanzees now provides shelter and care for more than 140 of these endangered apes, as well as several other primates. The solution for the chimpanzees and the people who live in the region is to provide an enhanced environment which will better house the chimpanzees, and also provide local employment and education. This holistic vision will develop 3 islands in the nearby Kouilou river as discreet and safe chimpanzee habitats, and build tourism and local employment opportunities as a consequence. In addition schools are being built next to the reserve to support the communities’ ability to build livelihoods, and live in harmony with their chimpanzee relatives for the future.