posted in 01 Oct 2025
Rest in Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
Today we are faced with the sad news of the passing of British primatologist Jane Goodall, one of the greatest global references in the study of chimpanzee behavior and sociality. She also helped encourage the creation of the Great Apes Project - GAP, signing a chapter in the book that gave rise to the international…
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posted in 15 Aug 2025
Sierra Leone chimp refuge shuts doors to tourists to protest deforestation
With a 30-year history, the sanctuary is one of the largest in Africa and is home to more than 100 chimpanzees, victims of illegal capture and trafficking. A significant portion of its revenue comes from visits, but a few months ago these were suspended to protest against the increasing rates of deforestation in the region.
Read more
posted in 04 Aug 2025
Europe: GAP Spain denounces the killing of 12 baboons at the Nuremberg zoo and demands an end to captive breeding
Last week, the press and various social media channels reported the decision of the German zoo to euthanize 12 baboons due to a lack of space to keep them. GAP Spain reinforces the denunciation and the absurdity of the situation.
Read more
posted in 25 Apr 2025
Facial touch contributes to the social development of human and chimpanzee infants
Recent article published in the scientific journal Animal Cognition documented facial touches of human and chimpanzee babies on other individuals. Different groups were observed to verify the importance of social touch in offsprings' development.
Read more
posted in 04 Apr 2025
Bonobos use a kind of syntax once thought to be unique to humans
The way bonobos combine vocal sounds to create new meanings suggests the evolutionary building blocks of human language are shared with our closest relatives. “It’s the first time in any animal species that there is an unambiguous evidence for non-trivial syntax, non-trivial compositionality, and so that changes the game,” says researcher Maël Leroux.
Read more
Residents' Stories
posted in 10 Sep 2025
Overcoming difficulties
Chimpanzee Jeber was castrated and had all his teeth pulled out in the circus where he lived. Because of this, he developed an unusual way of eating certain things. For example, to eat coconut, he uses his fingers to pull…
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2008, along with his companion Tyson, when IBAMA (Brazilian Environmental Institute) confiscated all animals from Le Cirque Circus, in Brasília.
Date of birth: 1990
Origin: Le Cirque Circus
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
posted in 08 Sep 2025
Companionship that heals
Chimps Caco and Jully are inseparable companions and an inspiring example of the transformative potential of socialization in a Sanctuary. Twenty three years ago, They found each other, complemented one another, and discovered their balance to live the peace and…
During his life the zoo, he had serious psychiatric disorders and would severely self-mutilate.
Date of birth: 1986
Origin: Sorocaba zoo
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
posted in 18 Jul 2025
Cecília and her new partner, Rakker
In June of this year, the team at the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba evaluated the possibility of interaction between Cecília (Argentina) and Rakker, and the experience has been successful. The two have been living together in harmony since then.
Her story became a milestone in the history of animal rights, as she was the first chimpanzee in the world to be released from a zoo and transferred to the Sanctuary through a Habeas Corpus.
Date of birth: 1997
Origin: Mendoza Zoo, Argentina
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
World Declaration on Great Apes Rights

We stand the proposal of equal extension in granting rights to all hominids/great apes.

Read More
GAP Project - O GAP luta pela garantia dos direitos básicos à vida, liberdade e não-tortura dos grandes primatas não humanos - Chimpanzés, Gorilas, Orangotangos e Bonobos, nossos parentes mais próximos no mundo animal. O GAP Brasil existe desde 2000 e conta com 4 santuários afiliados, que abrigam animais que foram vítimas de maus-tratos.
posted in 01 Oct 2025
Rest in Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
Today we are faced with the sad news of the passing of British primatologist Jane Goodall, one of the greatest global references in the study of chimpanzee behavior and sociality. She also helped encourage the creation of the Great Apes Project - GAP, signing a chapter in the book that gave rise to the international…
Read more
posted in 15 Aug 2025
Sierra Leone chimp refuge shuts doors to tourists to protest deforestation
With a 30-year history, the sanctuary is one of the largest in Africa and is home to more than 100 chimpanzees, victims of illegal capture and trafficking. A significant portion of its revenue comes from visits, but a few months ago these were suspended to protest against the increasing rates of deforestation in the region.
Read more
posted in 04 Aug 2025
Europe: GAP Spain denounces the killing of 12 baboons at the Nuremberg zoo and demands an end to captive breeding
Last week, the press and various social media channels reported the decision of the German zoo to euthanize 12 baboons due to a lack of space to keep them. GAP Spain reinforces the denunciation and the absurdity of the situation.
Read more
posted in 25 Apr 2025
Facial touch contributes to the social development of human and chimpanzee infants
Recent article published in the scientific journal Animal Cognition documented facial touches of human and chimpanzee babies on other individuals. Different groups were observed to verify the importance of social touch in offsprings' development.
Read more
posted in 04 Apr 2025
Bonobos use a kind of syntax once thought to be unique to humans
The way bonobos combine vocal sounds to create new meanings suggests the evolutionary building blocks of human language are shared with our closest relatives. “It’s the first time in any animal species that there is an unambiguous evidence for non-trivial syntax, non-trivial compositionality, and so that changes the game,” says researcher Maël Leroux.
Read more
Residents' Stories
posted in 10 Sep 2025
Overcoming difficulties
Chimpanzee Jeber was castrated and had all his teeth pulled out in the circus where he lived. Because of this, he developed an unusual way of eating certain things. For example, to eat coconut, he uses his fingers to pull…
He arrived at the sanctuary in 2008, along with his companion Tyson, when IBAMA (Brazilian Environmental Institute) confiscated all animals from Le Cirque Circus, in Brasília.
Date of birth: 1990
Origin: Le Cirque Circus
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
posted in 08 Sep 2025
Companionship that heals
Chimps Caco and Jully are inseparable companions and an inspiring example of the transformative potential of socialization in a Sanctuary. Twenty three years ago, They found each other, complemented one another, and discovered their balance to live the peace and…
During his life the zoo, he had serious psychiatric disorders and would severely self-mutilate.
Date of birth: 1986
Origin: Sorocaba zoo
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
posted in 18 Jul 2025
Cecília and her new partner, Rakker
In June of this year, the team at the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba evaluated the possibility of interaction between Cecília (Argentina) and Rakker, and the experience has been successful. The two have been living together in harmony since then.
Her story became a milestone in the history of animal rights, as she was the first chimpanzee in the world to be released from a zoo and transferred to the Sanctuary through a Habeas Corpus.
Date of birth: 1997
Origin: Mendoza Zoo, Argentina
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
World Declaration on Great Apes Rights

We stand the proposal of equal extension in granting rights to all hominids/great apes.

Read More