By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has officially reopened after a six-month closure, a bold stand against rampant deforestation and illegal land encroachment in Sierra Leone. Located 15 kilometers from Freetown within the Western Area Peninsula National Park, the sanctuary has been a pivotal site for ecotourism and wildlife conservation in West Africa.
Home to over 120 chimpanzees, many of whom are orphans due to poaching and habitat loss, Tacugama plays a crucial role in protecting the critically endangered Western chimpanzee.
In May 2025, faced with escalating threats from illegal land-grabbing, the sanctuary’s management made the difficult decision to suspend visitor access. “Our closure was never a choice; it was an act of protection against the serious threat posed by illegal land-grabbing,” stated founder and director Bala Amarasekaran.
The sanctuary’s closure aimed to galvanize governmental action to combat deforestation that jeopardizes its existence. Since 2012, the Western Area Peninsula National Park, which covers 18,000 hectares, has lost or severely degraded more than 5,600 hectares of forest. UNESCO reports that this park is home to up to 90% of Sierra Leone’s biodiversity.
The six-month hiatus took a toll, leading to financial strain, uncertainty for staff, and concerns about the future of the sanctuary. “The past months have been some of the most challenging in our history,” Amarasekaran reflected. “We faced financial loss, uncertainty for our staff and community, and the painful question of whether Tacugama could ever reopen.”
The reopening on November 1, 2025, comes alongside a renewed commitment from the Sierra Leonean government to address the threats facing the sanctuary. While specific details of this pledge remain undisclosed, Tacugama’s leadership has expressed cautious optimism regarding future collaboration.
Tacugama has demonstrated resilience in the past, having survived civil war attacks and a year-long closure during the Ebola epidemic. It continues its vital work of rehabilitating young chimpanzees, most of whom are under five years old and have lost their families to bushmeat hunting.
As operations resume, Tacugama sends a clear message: conservation cannot wait. The sanctuary’s recent actions have reignited national awareness of the urgent need to protect Sierra Leone’s forests and wildlife, emphasizing that this is essential not only for tourism but for the ecological future of the country.
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