Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Reopens as Government Promises to Curb Encroachment

Post Views: 901

Last updated: 2025/11/07 at 5:59 PM

By Sallu Kamuskay - Journalist and Public Relations Expert Published November 7, 2025 4 Min Read

4 Min Read

Tacugama Chimpanzee

Sierra Leone’s Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has reopened its doors to visitors after a five-month closure sparked by concerns over illegal encroachment. The government has pledged stronger action to protect the reserve, while founder Bala expressed hope that authorities will keep their promise to safeguard the country’s only chimpanzee sanctuary. With the reopening of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, visitors can now see the chimps again, following a strong promise by the government to stop people from encroaching on the sanctuary. Bala, the founder, said he is hopeful that the government will keep its word. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, one of Sierra Leone’s most celebrated wildlife refuges, has reopened to the public after being closed for five months in protest against growing deforestation and illegal land-grabbing around its protected area. The reopening on Saturday drew scores of visitors, including Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray, a Member of Parliament, who joined conservationists, families, and wildlife lovers to celebrate the sanctuary’s return.

Founded by environmentalist Bala Amarasekaran, the sanctuary had been closed since May 26 to raise alarm about the destruction of the Western Area Peninsula rainforest — home to the critically endangered Western chimpanzee. “Our closure was never a choice. It was an act of protection and a stand against illegal land-grabbing that posed a serious threat to Tacugama,” Amarasekaran said. According to management, the gates were reopened after the Sierra Leone government assured that it would take firm action to protect the forest and address encroachment. “The past months have been some of the most challenging in our history,” Amarasekaran explained. “We faced financial loss, uncertainty for our staff and community, and the painful question of whether Tacugama could ever reopen its doors.” Located about 15 kilometres from Freetown, the sanctuary is home to over 120 rescued chimpanzees, many of them orphans whose parents were killed by poachers or deforestation. Amarasekaran said the chimps have taught him profound lessons about life.

“The chimpanzees teach me forgiveness, patience, and the power of not holding grudges,” he said. “That’s why I’m committed to protecting them — they remind us of who we truly are.”

During the reopening, visitors toured the enclosures, learned about conservation efforts, and shared hopes that the government will do more to protect the country’s natural habitats. Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray praised Tacugama for its role in promoting eco-tourism, calling it “a national treasure that must be protected at all costs.” Over the years, Tacugama has survived war, disease outbreaks, and financial hardship — yet continues to stand as a beacon of environmental hope. Of the 18,000 hectares that make up the Western Area Peninsula National Park, an estimated 5,600 hectares have already been lost or severely damaged since 2012. Conservationists say the sanctuary’s reopening is a renewed call for collective action to protect Sierra Leone’s forests and wildlife for future generations.

Share this Article

By Sallu Kamuskay Journalist and Public Relations Expert

Follow:

Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert. His work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions. Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. But despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future. At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy. Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone. Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council. The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth. Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone. Sallu has worked on various developmental and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns. Sallu Kamuskay is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica, that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. He is the Adviser and Media coordinator for the App to give people the platform to connect and communicate to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception. Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion, and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change. Sallu is working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to community rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development. Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents like Africa. Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union, Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute to global youth platforms. Sallu is the lead Coordinator for Peace Tour programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union, ECOWAS focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities. Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola treatment centers after rumors that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer, she was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home, He did the same to a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across, the corps was later taken and buried. It could have been more disaster without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father's death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support. The article of America Stress can be read on the link below http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/item/7350-america-stress-a-hero-to-recognize. Sallu Kamuskay feels the stories of Gbessay, America stress and that of many others need to be told. The media house we have cannot better tell these stories, they are better reporters than telling human interest stories. He created the Salone Messenger platform and brought together passionate storytellers to be able to tell these compelling stories.