Help Us Protect Chimfunshi From Fire This Season

Help Us Protect Chimfunshi From Fire

The fire season has begun in Chimfunshi and we urgently need your support. With fires already threatening our land, wildlife, and sanctuary residents, we’re launching an emergency fundraising campaign to equip our team with the tools they need to defend the forest and save lives.

Chimfunshi Landscape

Chimfunshi is one of the oldest and largest chimpanzee sanctuaries in the world, located on over 10,000 hectares of floodplain and miombo woodland in northwestern Zambia. This unique mix of forest and open grassland provides a safe home for our communities and wildlife, and our sanctuary which is home to over 150 rescued chimpanzees and other animals. But every dry season, this landscape becomes highly vulnerable to wildfires.

Why Fire Starts?

In Zambia, fires are traditionally used by local communities to clear bush, create firebreaks, and harvest resources like chikanda from the forest. However, an increasing number of illegal fires are being set by wildlife poachers. These fires clear the dry grass and encourage new grass growth that attracts animals, making them easier to poach. This practice not only threatens wildlife directly, but also contributes to the long-term destruction of the forest and floodplain biodiversity.

The Devastating Impact of Fire

The consequences of these fires are far-reaching. Beyond the direct threat to people and wildlife from poachers, fires severely damage critical grazing areas for livestock on our farm, reducing food availability. Worse still, they regularly approach and even breach the boundaries of our chimpanzee enclosures, endangering both the physical safety and well-being of our rescued chimps.

This year, our dedicated team of keepers, staff, and volunteers are working around the clock to protect Chimfunshi’s forests, wildlife, and community. But without proper equipment and resources, their efforts are limited.

Support Us

Every contribution helps us respond faster and more effectively to these dangerous fires. Here’s how your support can make an immediate impact:

• Tier 1 – $25: Provides a fire beater and gloves for one team member

• Tier 2 – $50: Buys a portable water sprayer to help control hotspots

• Tier 3 – $100: Covers fuel to transport fire response teams for one month

• Tier 4 – $250: Supports the purchase of a drone to monitor and locate fires across our land

• Tier 5 – $500: Contributes to maintaining our water tank system for emergency use

• Tier 6 – $1,000: Helps fund a radio communication system for fast, coordinated response during emergencies

Please act now.

Your support today can help prevent tomorrow’s destruction. Together, we can protect Chimfunshi’s forests, its chimpanzees, and the surrounding community from the devastating effects of fire.