Pal - the first chimpanzee orphan
In the 1980s, David and Sheila Siddle established a cattle farm called Chimfunshi on the banks of the Kafue River in the Copperbelt region of northern Zambia, close to the border with Congo.
'Chimfunshi' means 'the place of water' in Bemba, one of the Zambian national languages. This is an apt name for the terrain, which turns into a vast wetland every year during the rainy season.
In 1983, a game warden brought a badly injured baby chimpanzee to the farm that he had rescued from poachers. No one gave the little ape any chance of survival. The Siddles spontaneously took in the little ape, named him Pal and cared for him day and night. Against all predictions, Pal survived — and still lives at Chimfunshi to this day.
The Chimfunshi orphanage was born
Word spread about the Siddles' success and their willingness to take in animals in emergency situations. As a result, more and more chimpanzees and other wild animals arrived at Chimfunshi. Almost always, the animals had experienced terrible mistreatment. The chimpanzees had been taken from illegal poachers, found at street markets, confiscated by customs as contraband, or removed from zoos and private homes. They came from all over the world and each one needed intensive care.
The Siddles gain recognition from famed primatologist Jane Goodall, who rescued Milla the chimpanzee from a bar in Tanzania in 1990. Milla was heavily dependent on alcohol and nicotine, and her withdrawal took years. Today, Milla is the grande dame of the sanctuary.
David and Sheila have received numerous honours for their dedication, including the Jane Goodall Award (1995), the Global 500 Award (2000), the Order of the British Empire (2001), and the PASA Circle of Compassion Award (2017).
The trust was established
However, the project quickly exceeded the Siddles' financial means.
In 1988, German entrepreneur Stephan Louis met the couple and saw their work. He founded the non-profit organisation Chimfunshi e.V. in Hamburg the following year to support the Siddles' Wildlife Orphanage. Since then, Chimfunshi has received significant support from Stephan and Sebastian Louis and the German Chimfunshi e.V..
In 1995, at the initiative of Stephan and David Siddle, the non-profit Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT) was established in Zambia to provide the sanctuary with long-term funding. CWOT became a founding member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), the largest association of wildlife centres in Africa, which was established in Uganda in 2000.
Thanks to financial support from Germany, Chimfunshi was able to employ basic staff. Grants enabled the construction of outdoor enclosures and feeding buildings, as well as the provision of vehicles and machinery. Clean drinking water was supplied by installing wells, and houses were built for the staff. A school, an infirmary and an education centre were constructed.
Following David Siddle's death in 2006, Sheila and the Board of Trustees continued the work of conserving chimpanzees and engaging with the local community. A management team was formed.
Chimfunshi continued to grow
In 2009, primatologist Innocent Chitalu Mulenga became General Manager of CWOT, becoming the first Zambian to hold such a position.
In 2011, Stephan Louis, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and founder of Chimfunshi e.V. Germany, died unexpectedly and was succeeded by his brother, Sebastian Louis. He has continued to lead the project as Chairman of CWOT and Chairman of Chimfunshi Germany ever since. Under his leadership, Chimfunshi hired a full-time veterinarian to care for the ever-growing animal population on the reserve and opened Zambia's first wildlife veterinary clinic on the grounds of Chimfunshi, providing care for both chimpanzees and local wildlife.
In April 2022, Sheila Siddle passed away at the age of 90. With her death, the founding couple has left Chimfunshi. However, their mission to rescue and provide lifelong care for chimpanzees from around the world continues.
The management team, the Trust, and the newly appointed Executive Director, Peggy Motsch (an ecologist and primatologist), ensure that Chimfunshi continues to evolve and remains an example of humanity, conservation, and animal welfare, in the spirit of David, Sheila and Stephan.
