Do you have any question? Please contact us:
enquiries@chimfunshiwildlife.org
or +260 975 519 881

Chimfunshi Germany

Our Mission: animal, nature and emviornmental conservation for our nearest relatives and help-to-self-help for the people at Chimfunshi

In 1989, Stephan Louis founded Chimfunshi Verein zum Schutz bedrohter Umwelt e.V., a non-profit organisation with the aim of supporting the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage.

The German charity ‘Chimfunshi Verein zum Schutz bedrohter Umwelt e.V’ (Chimfunshi Association for the Protection of Threatened Environments) commits itself to the protection of endangered chimpanzees and supports the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia.

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia, and the Chimfunshi e.V in Germany, work together to preserve and develop Chimfunshi’s environmentally important conservation area within the framework of a general concept. This involves, on the one hand, protection of the chimpanzee species by providing a home to poached and orphaned chimpanzees and on the other, to protecting and conserving the indigenous environment and its flora and fauna. The protection of the natural environment and its fauna and flora is an important part of the holistic concept of Chimfunshi – as is the support and development of the local community, including provision of child & adult education and training, employee career development; and health care to Chimfunshi’s local community.

Purpose and Goals of Chimfunshi e.V.

finance the operations, maintenance and expansion of the sanctuary as well as providing rehabilitative care for the chimpanzees;
ensure the long-term continuity of Chimfunshi and the rescue of chimpanzees in need;
Rescue of orphaned and injured chimpanzees;
provide for and educate the people living at Chimfunshi;
provide information about and promote commitment to the welfare of chimpanzees with the goal of getting as many people as possible to support species protection, animal welfare and natural conservation;
support primate research and cooperate with international institutes and universities;
engage in exchange with other chimpanzee sanctuaries and scientists around the world; facilitate field studies at Chimfunshi.

Further information can be found in our brochure, which you can download here.

The first years of Chimfunshi Germany

Stephan Louis 1954-2011

In 1988, Hamburg entrepreneur Stephan Louis discovered the Siddle’s orphanage and has since been actively committed to Chimfunshi. He founded the Chimfunshi Verein zum Schutz bedrohter Umwelt e.V. in Germany that same year and, together with numerous donors, provided significant financing for the project.

Thanks to the financial support from Germany in the early days of the association, the sanctuary could be organised internally and the first employees hired, which allowed additional chimpanzees to be accepted into the orphanage. The first outdoor enclosures and feeding buildings were created and an initial inventory of vehicles, equipment and machinery was purchased. In addition, five wells were drilled to ensure a supply of clean drinking water for Chimfunshi.

The acquisition of the Siddle cattle farm by Stephan Louis, who transferred his ownership to a Zambian trust, was intended to support the work with the chimpanzees and also to make the chimpanzee sanctuary self-supporting in the long term.

Stephan Louis sadly passed away unexpectedly and at the much-too-young age of 57 on 25.7.2011. His vision and commitment led many chimpanzees to be saved and given a home whilst ensuring a living for several hundred people in Zambia.