This sanctuary is the last hope for Liberia’s orphaned chimps

Jenny and Jimmy Desmond never want another chimpanzee arriving at their doorstep. It’s not that they don’t like them. On the contrary, their passion for the apes knows no bounds. That’s why they established Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection, the first sanctuary for chimps in the country. But for the animals to reach the Desmonds means that they’ve endured a horrendous journey. In West Africa, adult chimps are killed for bushmeat, while their babies are sold in the illegal pet trade. For the lucky few that are rescued and sent to the Desmonds, they gain a chance at freedom.

“Humans aren’t the only species that feel love and loss,” Jenny says. If infant chimps are separated from their parents, they are as affected as a human child would be. The Desmonds have taken in dozens of orphans, turning their lives around. “They can come in with broken limbs, their hair falling out, completely depressed, and a few months later they’re thriving,” Jenny says. The chimps’ recovery is thanks to the couple’s dual efforts. Jenny provides 24-hour nurturing to the young ones, even sleeping with them beside her. Jimmy, a wildlife veterinarian, tends to the chimps’ health and consults against the illegal pet trade. Working with law enforcement, the Desmonds seek to prevent the animals from landing in the hands of poachers at all. “Our primary goal is to keep chimps in the wild,” Jenny says.

Once rehabilitated, the chimps are released into protected areas to continue living a free life. “In all of the stress, trauma, and sadness, the reward is watching them grow up, recover, and become happy,” Jenny says. Thanks to their work, the forests of Liberia are still filled with the laughter of blissful chimps.

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