PAN AFRICAN SANCTUARY ALLIANCE

Illegal hunting and the sale of primates is commonplace in many regions of Africa. National and international laws prohibit chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and other rare primates from being hunted, sold or kept as pets. But these laws go unenforced unless there are sanctuaries where government officials can take confiscated animals to be cared for. In most cases these animals need significant medical attention. Wild
primates that have been kept as pets need rehabilitation and a safe environment where they can interact with others of their species and learn to live like apes and monkeys again. PASA’s 23 sanctuaries work closely with governments to confiscate illegally captured animals and prosecute people who are hunting and selling them, or keeping them illegally as pets. We also advise the development of sanctuaries in countries lacking confiscation resources and are experiencing high levels of illegal bushmeat hunting and primate pet trade activity.

PASA sanctuaries provide the highest standards of care for confiscated primates, based on a system of operational standards that has been the model for other sanctuary accreditation organizations globally.   PASA provides a conduit of information across sanctuaries, outside experts in conservation, animal welfare and science groups, to bring technical expertise, scientific knowledge, and best practices to increase sanctuaries’ effectiveness in tackling primate care and conservation issues. We provide emergency funding for PASA sanctuaries that experience natural disasters, disease outbreaks or other unforeseen problems. PASA engages with sanctuaries outside our membership to help them raise their standards, and advises on the development of conservation education, veterinary care and reintroduction programs. 

PASA provides annual training and skill-building workshops, as well as equipment and medicine that enable sanctuaries to deliver quality healthcare and rehabilitation for confiscated primates and other wildlife.

PASA member sanctuaries are some of the pioneers in the reintroduction of Africa’s endangered great apes: gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. Sanctuaries are also developing new methods to successfully rehabilitate and reintroduce monkey species. We bring together scientists and practitioners of ape and monkey reintroductions to share knowledge and determine best practices. Reintroduced apes from PASA sanctuaries have been breeding in the wild, and are helping to secure threatened habitats with new protected area designations.

Pasa sanctuaries conduct active education and outreach programs in schools and communities. PASA conservation education programs and activities reach thousands of children and their families every year in 13 countries across Africa. PASA works with global education and conservation experts to develop materials and empower sanctuaries to create conservation programs that are tailored to the needs in their communities. We support sanctuary staff and reward excellence in animal care and conservation through awards, recognition and training opportunities. 

Encouraging sustainable community projects:
PASA works with conservation organizations and funders to help sanctuaries develop individual programs for sustainable income projects including planting low impact crops that don’t attract wildlife; native tree nurseries; raising livestock sustainable in the local environment to replace bushmeat hunting; and developing women’s craft cooperatives. 

Forging real solutions for human-wildlife conflict:
One of the most pressing problems in conservation is human-wildlife conflict – the competition between people and wildlife over natural resources.  As human populations increase, Africa’s endangered primates including gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos are in direct competition with human communities for
natural resources like timber, forest products, and land.   As Africa’s human population grows, these primates are increasingly being hunted as "pests” because they consume or damage human food crops and other natural resources. 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution as human-primate conflict has many sources.  In some areas, crops such as sugar-cane are planted adjacent to prime primate habitat causing chimpanzees and monkeys to come out of the forest and raid the crops. In other areas, people go into the "protected” forest to harvest resources, often coming into conflict with the resident primates. An outcome that all too often occurs is that someone—human or chimpanzee or gorilla or monkey—gets hurt.     

PASA is embarking on a landmark three-year program to provide PASA educators and managers with the skills and tools they need to develop effective solutions to the human-wildlife conflicts in their locations. PASA member sanctuaries are uniquely positioned to effectively address human-wildlife conflict, as PASA is an alliance of global primate protection experts working together with wildlife sanctuaries in 12 countries across Africa.  PASA sanctuary staff have unrivaled access and influence as permanent members of the communities where they live and work. 

This program will support advanced training for the PASA sanctuary educators and managers so they can continue to develop programs that will help stop the killing of primates while at the same time building better livelihoods and stronger communities that value primates and will work to conserve them.