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The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa was started in 1997.
The first Chimpanzees were rescued from Angola and the Johannesburg Zoo kindly offered
to house them until a sanctuary had been built. 10 years later after many attempts
in many provinces, the Mpumalanga Parks Board saw the potential the sanctuary had
to offer the province. The partnership between the Cussons family of Nelspruit,
The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa and the Mpumalanga Parks Board was the start of
The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa’s Chimpanzee Eden.
In addition to the sanctuary JGI SA has run other projects. The Roots & Shoots project
encourages children and youth to understand that they can make a difference to Animals,
People and the Environment. This is called going A.P.E.
JGI SA also runs community projects encouraging members of the communities in Mpumalanga
and Gauteng to start food gardens, either in schools or where ever they can find
a piece of ground. Furthermore, they have donated a Wendy house to the crèche in
Diepkloof and have an ongoing commitment to help them where ever and however they
can.
Anyone wanting to know more about the projects can go to
www.rootsandshoots.org.za
or
www.janegoodall.co.za
The Executive Director is Susan Slotar.
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 | Chimpanzee Eden sanctuary is set on a 2 470 acres game reserve. The sanctuary is
home to chimpanzees that have been removed from their original natural habitat,
for one reason or another. The sanctuary is set in a tranquil environment surrounded
by beautiful bush and free roaming game.
The JGI Chimpanzee Eden South Africa is committed to the rescue and care of chimpanzees.
Not only are these chimpanzees given a home to live freely for the rest of their
lives, but they are also given love and care to help recover from the trauma they
have suffered. This is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa.
The sanctuary has a West African design and feel about it, West Africa being the
natural habitat region for the chimpanzee. The chimpanzees live within large enclosures,
in a semi-wild environment which closely resemble their natural habitat. Visitors
to the sanctuary have the unique opportunity to view the chimpanzees from close
up, in these semi-wild surroundings, displaying normal social interactions and behavioural
patterns.
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On entering the gates of the sanctuary visitors enter the education hall. Here visitors
learn about the plight of these primates and gain knowledge of chimpanzee behaviour.
Various guided/tour options are available. Feeding time is ideal, as visitors get
to hear from trained staff and also see the chimps from the viewpoint roof and/or
the bridge crossing the forest. Visitors are not limited to the guided tours and
are welcome to move freely around the enclosures.
Eugene Cussons is the Rescue Director of Chimpanzee Eden. He has dedicated his time
to rescuing and rehabilitating the chimpanzees. He is very much their hero. Eugene’s
work is highlighted in the TV show “Escape to Chimp Eden”, featured on Discovery
Channels’ Animal Planet. You can also join Eugene on the Ellen DeGeneres show and
the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
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