In 1998, Selma Manduca, current national coordinator of GAP Project Brazil, and her mother, Sonia, acquired Serginho, a baby chimpanzee, and were planning to have him as a pet. The erroneous idea of having a chimpanzee as a pet was quickly recognized and led them get involved in the cause and dedicate themselves to the fight for the rights of great apes, setting up a sanctuary.

The facilities at the Vargem Grande Paulista Sanctuary have an internal area of approximately 300 m2 with bedrooms, eating areas, bends and safety corridors, in addition to a large outdoor area for playing, exercises and socializing. As there are few chimpanzees, it is possible to carry out socialization work and have a very close and personal contact with each resident. These chimpanzees are very humanized, as they all come from circuses, and they love to watch television, especially on rainy days.