June 18, 2026

A fresh start on Banga Island — and a second chance at life

Photo: Fernando Turmo

Late last year, in an exciting development that could allow us to transform even more lives, the Jane Goodall Institute secured another site for rehabilitating chimpanzees.

The new island, Banga Island, is situated within the Tchimpounga Nature Reserve — just like the islands that had already been secured for this same purpose: Tchindzoulou Island, Ngombe Island, and Tchibebe Island.

Large and forested, this island sits along the Kouilou River and provides an essential, protected, semi-wild environment for rescued chimpanzees in long-term care. Here, they can live in natural conditions, free from predators and other human-related threats.

Month after month, the Jane Goodall Institute Republic of Congo collaborated and engaged with local residents — and the community ultimately expressed strong support for the initiative, and agreed that the island could be used by the Institute. The team started building a dormitory, which would provide secure sleeping quarters for both the chimpanzees and the caregivers.

Early this year, the Institute finalized agreements for the site and transferred seven chimpanzees — Aymard, Cesar, John, Kevin, Matiaba, Perrine, and Zeze — from the main sanctuary’s Nursery Group. To stay safe from wild chimpanzees who frequented the forests around the main sanctuary, these seven chimpanzees had spent most of their time in an area that was more restricted. Transferring them to Banga Island meant they could have more room to roam, learn, and explore.

Perrine and Zeze, seen here, were the first two chimpanzees to be transferred to Banga Island by Dr. Rebeca Atencia — the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Republic of Congo and the head veterinarian at Tchimpounga Sanctuary — and other Tchimpounga professionals. (Photo: Fernando Turmo)

In the time since they were transferred, these young chimpanzees have been exploring, playing, and lounging in the island’s shallow streams and brooks. And just as the professionals at Tchimpounga intended, they are now able to develop natural behaviours alongside caregivers — without interference from wild chimpanzees.