After spending most of his life in the cramped, unstimulating, and lonely confines of a roadside safari park, George, a 21-year-old chimpanzee, has finally been given a second chance at life at a sanctuary, according to local news.
George was one of 310 animals who were seized and relocated to sanctuaries or rescues after his former home — West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon, Oregon — was cited 78 times by the USDA in the last year, including for failing to provide George with an enrichment program.
Since arriving at the safari park in 2011, George had lived with his companion Daphne. But when she passed away in November 2023, he was left in isolation until his recent rescue — a devastating reality for a chimpanzee, as they live in large groups in the wild.
Now, George is settling into his new home at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Cle Elum, Washington, a 113-acre refuge with enriching indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a small community of chimpanzees.
After arriving at the sanctuary, George was quarantined and kept apart from the other chimpanzees. Now that he’s out of quarantine, he’s slowly exploring new areas, including a recent visit to a greenhouse, where he had the space to roam by himself so he wouldn’t feel intimidated. Over time, he will gradually be introduced to the other chimpanzees one by one.
“Every day, he gets a little bit more comfortable,” Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest Co-Director Diana Goodrich said.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to the authorities for seizing George from a harmful environment and to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for providing him with the care, enrichment, and dignity he deserves.