Akatia

The Akatia Association is a non-governmental organization founded in 2017 by Estelle Raballand and Sarah Crawford. It is a symbol of hope for the endangered primates of Côte d'Ivoire and for the Ivorian forests.

As part of its collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Forests, Akatia has been granted two forest plots in the heart of the classified forests of Yapo-Abbé and Comoé 1, covering 4,500 hectares and 1,200 hectares respectively.

These forests are home to exceptional biodiversity, including pangolins, snakes of all colors, and primates. They are ideal sites for the release of its young monkeys, in particular.              

Akatia is becoming not only a refuge for these threatened beings, but also a driving force for broader biodiversity conservation.

Our presence in protected forests and our forest protection efforts allow us to preserve and monitor wild primate populations. By supporting Akatia, you are helping not only the primates rescued from trafficking, but also those still living freely in the forest.

But Akatia is also made up of seven caregivers and volunteers who work daily in the field to make these missions possible.

💚 This year, every donation made on September 15 and October 6, 2026, during Early Giving and the Giving Day for Apes, will help fund the rescue and care of Cody, our newest chimpanzee.

Rescued in Abidjan after being kept in captivity for five months, Cody now needs dedicated care as he begins this new chapter of his life.

From his daily food and specialized nutrition to veterinary care, medical tests, quarantine, transportation and everything else required to ensure his well-being, his rescue comes with many costs — some of which are impossible to predict.

We will introduce Cody to you more fully throughout the Giving Day for Apes on October 6, but you can already meet him today, September 15, on our social media.

Every donation makes a concrete difference and helps us respond when a chimpanzee like Cody needs us.

Because every rescue comes with unexpected costs, every donation is welcome and truly matters.

Show us that solidarity and collective action can make a difference to pave the way—together—towards a better and more sustainable future for Côte d’Ivoire and its incredible wildlife.