It is the pioneer and the largest Great Apes Sanctuary among the four affiliated to GAP Project in Brazil. It is also the largest sanctuary for great apes in Latin America. It was founded in 2000 by businessman Pedro Ynterian, who maintains it today.
Currently, it houses about 250 animals, 44 of which are chimpanzees and other small primates, birds, cats and bears. The Sanctuary has five hectares of area and 63 enclosures for chimpanzees – some with 1000m2, divided into 14 complexes. The facilities are prepared to expand and receive other animals that are rescued from situations of abuse.
The Sanctuary fixed team has two veterinarians and 20 keepers, who follow the chimpanzees and other animals daily and develop environmental enrichment activities, always aiming to improve the quality of life in the captive environment.
Most chimpanzees in the Sanctuary of Sorocaba carry some history of human abuse, marked as physical and/or psychological trauma for the rest of their lives.
In circuses, they were exploited in the form of slave labor in which they were physically assaulted, castrated and had their teeth extracted in a totally archaic way. These conditions meant that they were kept subdued, so that they could be used in presentations to the public.
Life at zoos causes serious psychological trauma in great apes, caused by loneliness (not seeing, hearing, living with another of its kind), by confinement in an extremely restricted territory (the legislation that determines the size of the enclosure is obsolete regarding the size that offers real well-being to chimpanzees) and the stress of intense public exposure and harassment.
Chimpanzees arriving at the Sorocaba Sanctuary show positive behavior changes in a short time, as they become part of a large community of their own species and are cared for with great respect and dedication by the sanctuary team.
At the Sorocaba Sanctuary, each chimpanzee is an individual being with his or her intrinsic characteristics and personalities. For us, chimpanzees kept under human care should at least have freedom of choice about when to eat, in which part of the enclosure they want to stay, see hear others of their kind, where they want to sleep … And also be part of a large community of its own kind, so that, they reach a level of real and adequate well-being, which we believe is something close to their own happiness.
RESIDENTS
Billy
Date of birth: 07/10/1994
Origin: Kroner Circus
He was bought by a circus as a baby and arrived at the sanctuary in 2004. He is very intelligent and individualistic; sometimes explosive, he doesn’t like to share his stuff. When he was in the circus, still very young, he lived for a brief time with two chimpanzees who are also in the sanctuary, Tião and Monica. But as long as Billy doesn’t have good memories of the times he lived in the circus, they didn’t get along, so do not live together in the sanctuary. He is affectionate and very playful. He loves to see his reflection in the mirror. He is very expressive, asks for what he wants with gestures and likes to point out the parts of his face when looking at himself in the mirror like an eye, mouth, tooth, etc.
Billy Jr.
Date of birth: 02/22/2003
Origin: Brasília Zoo
He was born at the Bauru Zoo, where he was rejected by his mother. Then, he was transferred to Brasília Zoo and arrived at the Sanctuary in 2003, at just 6 months of age to be cared for with his older sister, Carolina, who was also rejected by his mother. He is very playful, affectionate, intelligent, lives very well with other chimpanzees and has the personality of an eternal child, always wanting to play and throwing a tantrum when upset. Billy Jr. is known for his exceptional vocalizations, in which he looks like someone else screaming and for hitting his hands on his chest (like a gorilla) to get attention.
Bruna
Date of birth: 09/05/1988
Origin: Garcia Circus
She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2004. Bruna lived at Garcia Circus for 15 years confined in a small cage. In her rescue from the circus, her caged needed to be sawed so that Bruna could be removed, so small it was. Since she was very young, Bruna was kept in the same cage and as she developed without ever leaving, at the time of the rescue she was bigger than the door of the cage. For this reason, she still suffers from claustrophobia, due to the trauma of living in an extremely small place. Rain or shine, she prefers to stay in the open air areas, especially in the baskets at the top of the houses, where she makes her nest to sleep peacefully. Despite this trauma, she is calm, gentle and docile and lives in peace with her brother Carioca.
Caco
Approximate date of birth: 1986
Origin: Sorocaba Zoo.
He was raised by a family as a pet and then was sent to zoos in Curitiba and then Sorocaba. When he lived in the zoo, he had severe psychiatric disorders and severely mutilated himself, biting his legs and tearing off pieces of his own skin and muscles. For the zoo, Caco’s destiny would be euthanasia because he was unable to improve in those living conditions. He was then taken to the Sanctuary and his life changed completely. Upon arriving at the sanctuary in 2002, Caco underwent drug treatment, but the most important thing was to live directly with chimpanzee Jully and indirectly with other neighbors of the same species. This was fundamental and made Caco present in a few months a total improvement of his clinical condition. Since then, he has shown no signs of any psychiatric problem and lives peacefully with his partner Jully. He is very playful, curious and affectionate with his caregivers. He very much likes to do grooming and to play tag, showing daily his joy of having another chance to live in peace and harmony and leaving his past of suffering behind.
Carioca
Date of birth: 04/24/1995
Origin: Garcia Circus
He arrived at the sanctuary at a young age in 2004, coming from the former Garcia Circus, where he was born and lived for years. Due to the suffering he went through in the circus, like his sister Bruna, he does not like to stay indoors. He is temperamental, curious and very active. He likes to walk around the room to watch through the windows and watch the movements of the keepers and chimpanzees that live in the surrounding enclosures. He is always with Bruna and likes to sleep with her in the baskets that are on top of the houses, from where it is possible to have a very extensive view of the Sanctuary. Carioca is very generous and shares everything with Bruna and even takes food to share with her, when Bruna doesn’t want to get out of the house to catch it.
Carlos
Date of birth: 02/02/2000
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR).
He was raised by humans from the beginning of his life and arrived at the Sanctuary in 2000, when he was just a few months old. He is Claudio’s older brother and they have lived together since childhood. He is also Vitor and Monica’s brother, but he does not know them, as they were sold to the circus when they were born and arrived at the sanctuary after many years of work and suffering in the circus. Carlos likes to play with strollers and usually keeps his favorite toys in his bed. He is very brave and sociable, especially with females. He is very playful and likes to make faces when looking in the mirror.
Carolina
Date of birth: 04/04/2002
Origin: Brasilia Zoo
She is Billy Jr.’s older sister, and like him, she was rejected by her mother, who assaulted her when she was born and needed veterinary care to recover. She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2002, at 5 month-old. She is very intelligent, determined, temperamental and does not like to be contradicted. She is very dominant, faces males and likes to do everything her way. Carol loves to carry her blanket everywhere, she likes to wear clothes and toys.
Catarina
Approximate date of birth: 1971
Origin: Koslov Circus
She was one of the last chimpanzees to work in circuses in Brazil, she lived almost 40 years in the circus. She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2009, after an apprehension by Ibama and the Federal Police in a circus that was in Minas Gerais. Catarina is very sociable, affectionate and delicate. She is a true “lady”. She lives in true peace and love with her partner Jango and they spend all the time together.
Cecília
Date of birth: 06/23/2012
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She was born in the Sanctuary, daughter of Ditty and Gilberto. Cecília is very smart and active. She has always lived in a group since she was born, but after entering puberty she had to change her family. That is why she was approached by Miguel, a young male who was also needing to change groups because he was facing his father. The two gradually got closer and today they are inseparable. They stay together all the time and love each other. However, even separated from their previous families, Miguel and Cecilia still have the opportunity to live with them, since they are all in neighboring premises, thus respecting their family ties and at the same time giving them the opportunity to start a new life. and another family together.
Cecília (Argentina)
Approximate date of birth: 1997
Origin: Mendoza Zoo, Argentina
She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2017 and her history became a milestone in the history of animal law, as she was the first chimpanzee in the world to be released from a zoo and transferred to the Sanctuary through a Habeas Corpus. Cecilia lived for many years at the Mendoza Zoo in Argentina, where, after the death of her two companions, she remained in a precarious, very lonely and sad place for years. As soon as she arrived at the sanctuary, Cecília quickly adapted and within a few months she had the opportunity to meet chimpanzee Marcelino, a young male who was also waiting for a company. When Cecília arrived at the sanctuary, she was apathetic and very introspective, without facial expressions or vocalizations of her kind. Today, she is completely different, she is very expressive and active, as chimpanzees are. She enjoys watching her neighbors, especially Luke, and coexists in harmony with her companion Marcelino.
César
Date of birth: 12/10/2013
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
He is the son of Samantha and Emílio and the younger brother of Sofia, Suzi and Sara. He is very active, dominant and likes to be the center of attention of the family. He lives with Jimmy and his sisters, and is very fond of teasing Suzi to play. He is very precocious, evolved, self-sufficient and since childhood he has dominance strategies to conquer everyone with whom he lives, going from provocation to affection to get what he wants.
Claudio
Approximate date of birth: 2000
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
He is the son of Gilberto and Lulu and Carlos’ younger brother. He arrived at the Sanctuary when he was a baby, in 2001. Despite being a very dominant male, he is at the same time gentle, sociable and temperamental. He likes to do grooming and when he gets hurt he likes to show the wounds to the people he trusts to be taken care of. Like his brother Carlos, he also likes to make faces when he sees his reflection in the mirror. He is very active and cheerful.
Ditty
Approximate date of birth: 1985
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2001 from a former commercial breeding ground where she suffered a lot. She was used for reproduction, and shortly after birth her babies were removed and sold throughout Brazil. Only when she arrived at the sanctuary she had the opportunity to raise her children and live in peace. She is the mother of Dolores, Samantha, Luiza, Pedrinho and Yasmin, the last three born in the Sanctuary – whom she managed to raise naturally because they were not taken from her. She is a good, dedicated, but strict mother, and keeps a close eye on her puppy all the time. For being more serious, the games with the youngest daughter are the responsibility of the father Gilberto, who loves to enjoy his children.
Dolores
Approximate date of birth: 1996
Origin: Beto Carrero World
She lived her childhood at Circo di Napoli and was confiscated by the Justice for mistreatment and lack of legal documentation and brought to the Sanctuary. However, with a turnaround in the judicial process, it was determined that Dolores would return to the zoo Beto Carrero World, which was her Legal “owner”. After the end of the process in 2005, Dolores was definitively sent to the Sanctuary and arrived seriously debilitated, in fragile health and with respiratory problems. Despite all the mistreatment she suffered, and carrying trauma for a lifetime, Dolores is very sociable and coexists well in a group. She is a little clumsy, but at the same time she is affectionate with the people she trusts and loves to do grooming. She lived in harmony with Black, until his death, and currently shares the enclosure with Emilio, who likes her very much.
Emílio
Date of birth: 24/05/2000
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
He was created by humans from his early days. He is the son of Gilberto and Margarete and Noel’s younger brother. He is known as a “smile” chimpanzee because he smiles when he sees people he likes. Emílio is also famous for throwing dirt at strangers or when the tractor passes close to his enclosure. He has his peculiar way of attracting attention, which is making the sound of a kiss repeatedly. He is very affectionate, kind, playful and impulsive. When he is suspicious of something, he has the same look as his mother, Margarete.
Francis
Approximate date of birth: 1968.
Origin: Vesty Pakos Zoo (Bolivia)
As a baby she was taken from Africa to the USA, to a medical experiment laboratory. As an adult, she lived in a zoo in Colorado and was sent there with the female Queenie to the Vesty Pakos Zoo in La Paz, Bolivia. When the zoo was no longer able to care for chimpanzees, they were sent to the Sanctuary in 2003. She is one of the oldest females in the Sanctuary and has always lived with her companion Queenie, who died in 2011. After the event, Francis lived with Charles and today he is in the company of chimpanzee Sam. Francis is very reserved, does not like contact with humans due to her past traumas, in which she suffered a lot at the hands of humans, but does not like being alone and enjoys the company of other chimpanzees. So she is always in the company of Simon (Sam).
Gilberto
Approximate date of birth: 1985
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
He arrived at the Sanctuary in 2002 from a former commercial breeding site, where he was used for breeding. He is the father of Noel and Emílio and other chimpanzees already born in the sanctuary: Pedrinho, Luiza and Yasmin, but he also has several children that he does not know, as they were sold by the breeding site. He lives with his family, in one of the largest groups in the Sanctuary. He loves to play with the puppies, is a great father and at the same time is a dominant and very territorial male, always protecting his group.
Jamaica
Approximate date of birth: 1981
Origin: Boa Luz Hotel (northeast Brazil)
She arrived in 2014 at the Sanctuary, extremely thin and debilitated, along with her companions, Maria das Dores and Martin. Jamaica lived in a Farm Hote in Sergipe, northeast of Brazil, where she worked to entertain guests, circling the hotel with a collar around her neck. Before working at the hotel she lived in a circus where she had all her teeth pulled out. Despite all this, Jamaica is very docile, quiet, sociable and affectionate. At the Sanctuary, she is known for her scandalous screams, screaming and becoming very euphoric when someone she likes arrives and also when any other chimpanzee vocalizes near her. She quickly adapted to the Sanctuary and now lives very happily with her partner Alex.
Jango
Approximate date of birth: 1986
Origin: Circo di Franci
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2003 after spending a large part of his life traveling in a circus in Minas Gerais. When he lived in the circus, he was castrated and had all his teeth pulled out. At times, he looks like a slightly grumpy old man, but his personality is much more sociable, being very affectionate and playful. He loves to play with water and usually wash his hands and feet when he is playing. Jango is always with her partner Catarina, the two are inseparable and spend hours grooming each other.
Jeber
Approximate date of birth: 1990
Origin: Circo le Cirque
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2008 together with his companion Tyson, when Ibama confiscated all animals from Circo Le Cirque in Brasília. He lived with Tyson in a small, precarious cart amidst feces and food scraps. In the circus he was castrated and had all his teeth pulled out. He had a heavy chain around his neck when he was rescued, and when he arrived at the Sanctuary he had several scars on his neck. Therefore, he is suspicious and treacherous with people. Despite this, behind all the suffering he went through, Jeber is sociable, playful and loves to carry and care for the toys he gains as environmental enrichment.
Jimmy
Approximate date of birth: 1992
Origin: Zoonit (RJ)
He lived for more than 10 years alone in a tiny enclosure at Zoonit, in Niterói Rio de Janeiro. Jimmy arrived at the sanctuary in 2011, after an apprehension made by IBAMA for the removal of all animals due to conditions of mistreatment in which the animals were being subjected at the zoo. The site was unable to care for the animals and shortly afterwards an investigation was opened against the zoo on suspicion of international animal trafficking. Despite all the years he spent isolated from living with other chimpanzees, Jimmy is very sociable. At the Sanctuary he proved to be an extraordinary adoptive father and lives very well with Samanta’s children – Sofia, Sara, Suzi and César -, having a lot of patience to take care of them all. He is very affectionate, calm, stubborn, determined and loves to take a shower.
Johnny
Approximate date of birth: 1989
Origin: Curitiba Zoo
He arrived at the Sanctuary in 2005. He lived for ten years at the zoo in Curitiba, and before arriving at the zoo he was raised as a pet by a family in São Paulo, in a 25m² cage in the yard. He arrived at the Sanctuary without two fingers on his right hand and it is not known how he lost them, because little is known about his past. Johnny is cheerful, affectionate, smart and very fond of staying on the walkway of his enclosure, where he makes nests to sleep with several blankets and be very comfortable. He loves to drink water straight from the hose or in bottles and to do grooming with his caregivers.
Jully
Approximate date of birth: 1990
Origin: Piracicaba Zoo
She belonged to a circus in the Northeast of Brazil that went bankrupt and sold it to an animal trader. As she had no legalized documentation, was handed over to Piracicaba Zoo. After the temporary closure of the zoo in 2002, she went to the sanctuary. Jully is very affectionate, delicate and very jealous of her companion, Caco. They are always together and like to stay in the enclosures near the lake, where Jully climbs in the baskets of the house to observe the view. She likes to drink cold liquid in a bottle and with a straw and loves to eat fresh vegetables.
Luíza
Date of birth: 05/06/2003
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
Daughter of Ditty and Gilberto. Since she was born, she has lived in a group with her family. She is a very strong and genious female, just as her mother Ditty was when she was younger. She takes good care of her daughter, Sol, and is always participating in the group’s activities, provoking everyone to get what she wants.
Marcelino
Date of birth: 03/27/2007
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
Son of Peter and Táta, who arrived pregnant at the sanctuary. Older brother of Miguel and Milan. He is extremely affectionate, sociable and playful. Marcelino likes to make nests by cutting the blanket into several pieces and observing the movement of the other chimpanzees through the basket at the top of the house. He is very active, he is always attentive, but at the same time he is very calm. He needed to be removed from his family group, because when he got older he started to dispute dominance with his father. Marcelino was in need of a company and then Cecilia, from Argentina, arrived. The two were approached slowly and were soon compatible and interested in each other. This gave Cecília a faster adaptation and a happier life for the two, who live together in harmony.
Margarete
Approximate date of birth: 1972
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
As a young man, she lived for a while in the circus where she had all his teeth pulled out. After that she spent part of her life in a former commercial breeding ground, where she suffered a lot. She was used for reproduction, and shortly after birth his babies were removed and sold throughout Brazil. In addition, she was used for breeding in zoos and illegally spent time in various places just to generate babies, who were later sold or exchanged. She is the mother of Noel and Emílio, who live in the Sanctuary. But she does not know them, as they were taken from her shortly after they were born. She is a bit grumpy and stubborn, but at the same time she is sweet and easy going. She is very sociable, as she knows exactly how to behave in any situation other than living with other chimpanzees. She lives with chimpanzee Maria and has a very beautiful friendship with her; the two soon became inseparable companions, do everything together and respect and protect each other.
Maria das Dores
Approximate date of birth: 1983
Origin: Boa Luz Hotel (northeast Brazil)
She arrived at the Sanctuary in 2014 very thin and sad, along with her companions, Jamaica and Martin. She quickly adapted to the Sanctuary and soon recovered by living well with everyone. Maria is very calm, docile, introspective and very stubborn. She lives better with females than males and today lives with her friend Margarete, with the total peace and tranquility that one provides to the other. The two soon became inseparable companions, they do everything together and respect and protect each other.
Martin (Sergipe)
Approximate date of birth: 1985
Origin: Boa Luz Hotel (northeast Brazil)
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2014 with the chimpanzees Maria das Dores and Jamaica. He lived on a precarious and very small island with the two females and did not allow the two to feed, as the food was not enough for the three. He was feared and very lonely where he lived and shortly after arriving at the Sanctuary he changed his behavior and was even more dominant, yet more cheerful and playful. Martin likes to interact and calls to play running from room to room. He is very fond of fruit ice cream that he receives as enrichment and is calmer to eat, different from what he was in the past.
Martin
Approximate date of birth: 1996
Origin: Garcia Circus
He arrived at the Sanctuary in 2004, from the former Garcia Circus. He is easy to relate to humans and, especially, to other chimpanzees. He is a strong and slim chimpanzee, very intelligent, curious, active and is always interested in the movement of the keepers around him. He loves coconut water, starts to scream when he sees the coconuts and quickly opens the shell to take the water. He lives with chimpanzee Monica, a very dominant and strong female, but they respect each other and know how to stay a little apart when one is more nervous than the other.
Miguel
Date of birth: 10/09/2010
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
Second son of Tata and Peter, brother of Marcelino and Milan. He is very similar to his brother Marcelino, both physically and in personality. He is a little more introspective than Marcelino, but very docile and sociable with the people and chimpanzees he trusts. After entering puberty, Miguel had to change groups, as he was facing his father. Cecilia, who was also changing groups, was the perfect companion for him. The two gradually got closer and today they are inseparable, they stay together all the time and love each other. Even though they are very well together, the two maintain their family ties since they can interact with their relatives who are in the enclosures close to them and thus provide well-being for all.
Milan
Date of birth: 09/07/2015.
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
Younger son of Tata and Peter, brother of Marcelino and Miguel. Milan has a peculiar way of observing everything and everyone, he looks up and looks “over the top”. He is more genious than his brothers, being very curious and courageous. He loves to climb the trees in his enclosure and play with his father Peter. He is always close to his mother Tata, who takes good care of him, giving a lot of care protecting and scolding Milan when necessary.
Mônica
Approximate date of birth: 1995
Origin: Kroner Circus
She arrived at the sanctuary in 2006, she is the sister of Carlos, Claudio and Vitor, but she never met them, because as a baby she was sold to the circus. She is a large, dominant female with a strong personality. She has a habit of walking upright quite often, mainly to show her size and intimidate. She likes to wear clothes and makes a kind of skirt with fabrics, to walk around the room. She lives with the chimpanzee Martin and, despite being genious, Mônica knows how to respect him.
Noel
Date of birth: 12/20/1998
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
He was raised by humans since his birth. He arrived at the sanctuary in 2000, together with Samanta. They were both raised since babies as brothers, despite having different parents. He is the son of Gilberto and Margarete and older brother of Emílio. Noel is very sociable, polite and loves to watch every movement of the cars, because from his enclosure he views the garage and the movement of employees. He is known as an “engineer”, as he is very intelligent in everything he does. As his brother, Emílio, when he is suspicious, he has the same look as his mother, Margarete. He loves to play and interact, he has lived in several groups of chimpanzees, today he is with Samanta, who stays with him or his children for a while.
Pedrinho
Date of birth: 01/08/2008
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
Son of Ditty and Gilberto, he lives in the group with his parents and sisters. He is very smart and likes to imitate his father and is always walking behind him and watching everything he does. He has a good relationship with everyone in his family, but he is already quite dominant, always trying to do whatever he wants and showing his strength to the females. He is very curious and active and is always attentive to the vocalization of other neighboring chimpanzees.
Peter
Approximate date of birth: 1985
Origin: Paraíso Perdido Zoo (CE)
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2007. He lived in a zoo in Fortaleza, Northeast of Brazil, where he suffered a lot together with the chimpanzees Tata and Judy, as the zoo was closed and was in a precarious situation, causing them to suffer from the lack of food and water. In addition, they lived in an enclosure where there was little shade, forcing them to stay in the heat and feel thirsty. He is very strong, imposing and has a hair color different from other chimpanzees, being more gray throughout the body. Peter is reserved, but likes to play tag. Whenever he goes to get food to eat in the house on his enclosure, he takes several bananas and other fruits at once, perhaps because he was hungry in his life before the Sanctuary and because he was afraid of running out of food. He is the father of Marcelino, Miguel and Milan. Peter is a great father, takes good care of his children, always interacting positively with them.
Rakker
Date of birth: 06/29/1991
Origin: Artis Zoo Amsterdam (Netherlands).
When he was very young, Rakker was not well accepted in the group of chimpanzees at the zoo where he lived and was attacked several times by some members of the group, suffering serious injuries. Still at the zoo, one of the chimpanzees who accepted Rakker was Simon (Sam), who became his faithful companion and went to the Sanctuary with him in 2004. Rakker is shy, introverted and reserved. He carries the traumas of his life at the zoo to this day and is very afraid of other chimpanzees. Despite this, he enjoys the company of people he trusts and is very docile and caring.
Samanta
Date of birth: 02/14/1999
Origin: Former Chimpanzee Breeding Ground Marco Schwartz, in Morretes (PR)
She was created by humans since her first days of life arriving at the Sanctuary in 2000, together with the chimpanzee Noel. Samanta and Noel were raised as siblings despite having different parents and even today they live well together and have siblings ties. She is the mother of four chimpanzees born in the sanctuary – Sofia, Sara, Suzi and César. She is very intelligent, calculating and extremely sociable with other chimpanzees, so she likes to change groups of chimpanzees frequently. Samanta has a strong personality, as does her mother, Ditty, and is more reserved in showing her feelings.
Sara
Date of birth: 05/22/2010
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She has a physical appearance very similar to that of her aunt Carolina, as well as her personality, even her mannerisms resemble her aunt. Sara’s particularity is in the way she looks at others, she raises her head and makes a face when she is looking thoughtfully. She lives with her sister Suzi and Jimmy, who raised her as a daughter, and also with César and Sofia, who are with them hourly with their mother, Samanta. Sara is very observant, determined and doesn’t like to be upset. Sara lives very well in a group and respects Jimmy a lot, always being with him and following what he does.
Simon (Sam)
Date of birth: 02/08/1990
Origin: Artis Zoo Amsterdam (Netherlands)
He arrived at the Sanctuary in 2004, together with Rakker. He is a little agitated, suspicious and very temperamental, loves to play running when he is in a good mood, but sometimes he is a little moody and remains more reserved. Today he lives a little with Rakker and a little with Francis. He gets along very well with both and respects Rakker’s traumas, being very good with him. He is very admired by Francis, who is always behind him and, despite being reserved, they enjoy each other’s company a lot.
Sofia
Date of birth: 04/28/2009.
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She is the daughter of Samanta and Guga. At first she was not taken care of by her mother and needed to be taken care of by humans, but then she was reintegrated into the group and today she lives very well with her mother and brothers. Sofia is the troublemaker of the family, always agitating the daily life and provoking her brothers. She is determined and brave and interacts and can live with several chimpanzees, since despite having a strong personality she knows how to relate well with them.
Sol
Date of birth: 11/20/2014
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She is Luiza’s daughter. She is very agitated and likes to play with all members of the family. She is cheerful, brave and curious and is always looking for a joke. She really likes to play with Yasmin and they are always up to it.
Suzi
Date of birth: 06/10/2011
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She is very docile, jealous and sometimes suspicious. She is closest to her adopted father, Jimmy, but she interacts and gets along with everyone in the group. She tends to play a lot with César, she is the sister who has more patience with him. She is always with Sara, who, being her older sister, serves as a reference for her.
Tyson
Date of birth: 1990
Origin: Circus Le Cirque.
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2008, when Ibama confiscated all animals from Circo Le Cirque in Brasília. He lived with Jeber in a small, precarious cart amidst feces and food scraps. At the circus he was castrated and had all his teeth pulled out. He is obedient and more sociable than Jeber, he is very fond of playing and watching the lake and woods that are close to his enclosure. He lives very well with Jeber and they are very close to each other, defending each other when they feel threatened.
Yasmin
Date of birth: 03/14/2017
Origin: Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba
She is the youngest of the Sanctuary. She is very active and smart. She plays with everyone in her family, especially with her father, Gilberto. She is always close to the chimpanzee Sol, interacting and learning from her.
IN MEMORIAM – They lived at the sanctuary and now rest in peace
Alex (1986-2021)
Black (1970-2021)
Bob (1975-2016)
Bongo (1996 – 2016)
Carolina (1985 – 2013)
Charles (1985 – 2015)
Flinn (2001)
Gil (1994 – 2006)
Guga (1999 – 2018) https://www.projetogap.org.br/en/guga/
Hulk (1975 – 2012)
Judy (1985 – 2015)
Junior (1977 – 2012)
Leo (1995 – 2007)
Lilico (1980 – 2020)
Luke (1994 – 2021)
Lulu (1984 – 2008)
Nega (1977 – 2016)
Pinho (1985 – 2016)
Pongo (1985 – 2015)
Susi (1975 – 2005)
Táta (Tatinha) (1978 – 2009)
Táta (1990 – 2021)
Tião (1996 – 2022)
Toto (1989 – 2017)
Tuca (1973 – 2008)
Vitor (1997 – 2012)
Queenie (1973 – 2011)
