Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (CRP) runs a natural habitat sanctuary and eco-tourism program on three islands in River Gambia National Park, Gambia. More than 100 chimpanzees have been reintroduced into this protected area over several decades. Wild chimps disappeared from The Gambia in the early 1900s but now four separate troops live on what are known as the three “Baboon Islands”.
Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust was established in 1979 by Stella Marsden to provide a home for chimps confiscated by the Gambian wildlife authorities from hunters and pet traders. Stella was awarded an OBE for her animal welfare work, but died in January 2008 and is buried at the CRP camp. American primatologist Janis Carter remains CRP’s director and works in chimpanzee conservation in Senegal and Guinea while managing the 1,500-acre sanctuary.
An eco-friendly river camp overlooks the islands where visitors can stay while exploring the area by boat. The lush riparian habitat is also home to manatees, hippos, endangered red colobus monkeys, baboons, crocodiles and over 240 species of birds. Boat expeditions allow up-close views but stay a safe distance from the wildlife.
It appears that the project is no longer a functional primate rescue or rehabilitation project but rather an eco-tourism project that funds the existing sanctuary and residents. No information regarding a volunteer program is currently available online. CRP has no website and limited information can be found on their Facebook page.
However Friends of Animals in the US have several pages dedicated to the project:
Project Page
Support CRP
