posted in 09 Feb 2026
Bonobos are capable of pretend play, just like human children
Children love to play pretend, holding imaginary tea parties, educating classrooms of teddies or running their own grocery stores. Now, a new study suggests that such make-believe play is not a uniquely human talent, but a skill that great apes also possess.
Read more
posted in 04 Feb 2026
New chimpanzee welfare finding is made in Brazil
An unprecedented finding on brain lateralization from fieldwork with residents of the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba suggests a new approach to chimpanzee welfare in captivity. Discover the first results of the research by veterinarian Juliana Kihara, who worked at the Sanctuary for 12 years.
Read more
posted in 04 Nov 2025
Chimpanzees change their minds based on evidence, demonstrating, like us, rational thinking
New study shows that chimpanzees have the ability to change their minds and make new choices according to the evidence experienced. This ability is the basis of what we can call rational thinking – which until now was classified as a distinctive characteristic of human beings.
Read more
posted in 18 Oct 2025
The Wound of Forgetfulness
It is incomprehensible, and at the same time revealing, that in the 21st century—when science has proven beyond any doubt the genetic, cognitive and emotional closeness we share with the great apes—we still relegate them to the silence of forgetfulness.
Read more
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
Residents' Stories
posted in 09 Nov 2025
The social integration process of #chimpYoko has advanced!
After a little more than seven months since his arrival and ongoing observation of his general condition and behavior, the team at the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, successfully carried out an internal transfer to a new…
He arrived at the Sanctuary after an unprecedented operation involving several organizations that mobilized to make his transfer possible. Yoko was the last remaining captive chimpanzee in Colombia.
Date of birth: 1986
Origin: Biopark Ukumari (Colombia)
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
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…
in memoriam
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
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 09 Feb 2026
Bonobos are capable of pretend play, just like human children
Children love to play pretend, holding imaginary tea parties, educating classrooms of teddies or running their own grocery stores. Now, a new study suggests that such make-believe play is not a uniquely human talent, but a skill that great apes also possess.
Read more
posted in 04 Feb 2026
New chimpanzee welfare finding is made in Brazil
An unprecedented finding on brain lateralization from fieldwork with residents of the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba suggests a new approach to chimpanzee welfare in captivity. Discover the first results of the research by veterinarian Juliana Kihara, who worked at the Sanctuary for 12 years.
Read more
posted in 04 Nov 2025
Chimpanzees change their minds based on evidence, demonstrating, like us, rational thinking
New study shows that chimpanzees have the ability to change their minds and make new choices according to the evidence experienced. This ability is the basis of what we can call rational thinking – which until now was classified as a distinctive characteristic of human beings.
Read more
posted in 18 Oct 2025
The Wound of Forgetfulness
It is incomprehensible, and at the same time revealing, that in the 21st century—when science has proven beyond any doubt the genetic, cognitive and emotional closeness we share with the great apes—we still relegate them to the silence of forgetfulness.
Read more
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
Residents' Stories
posted in 09 Nov 2025
The social integration process of #chimpYoko has advanced!
After a little more than seven months since his arrival and ongoing observation of his general condition and behavior, the team at the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, successfully carried out an internal transfer to a new…
He arrived at the Sanctuary after an unprecedented operation involving several organizations that mobilized to make his transfer possible. Yoko was the last remaining captive chimpanzee in Colombia.
Date of birth: 1986
Origin: Biopark Ukumari (Colombia)
Sanctuary: Sorocaba, São Paulo/Brazil
Read more
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…
in memoriam
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
World Declaration on Great Apes Rights

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

Read More