Jane Goodall Instagram – You may recognize this extraordinary moment, when a chimpanzee named Wounda embraced Dr. Jane Goodall. 💚
What the world saw was a brief exchange of trust and gratitude. What came before it was years of care, compassion, and recovery.
When Wounda arrived at the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of the Congo, she was gravely ill. She was so weak her name in Lingala means “close to dying.” Like so many orphaned chimpanzees, she was rescued after her mother was killed in the illegal bushmeat trade.
Tchimpounga, founded by the Jane Goodall Institute in 1992, is now the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa. It provides lifelong care to chimpanzees rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and serves as a model for conservation, education, and animal welfare across the region. The sanctuary includes a veterinary clinic, nursery, and expansive forest island habitats where rehabilitated chimpanzees can live freely and safely, forming new families and rediscovering what it means to be wild.
Under the dedicated care of Dr. Rebeca Atencia and her team, Wounda slowly regained her strength and spirit. When she was finally ready, she was transferred to one of these protected forested islands. She found a new home where she could roam, climb, and thrive among her kind.
As her transport crate opened, Wounda stepped out, looked back, and reached for Jane, offering an embrace that has since become a symbol of hope, resilience, and the profound connections we share with the other beings who call this planet home. 🌿💞
*All interactions shown occurred under the supervision of trained professionals for the purposes of sanctuary care and rehabilitation. The Jane Goodall Institute does not condone the handling or close contact with wildlife.
📸: Fernando Turmo
#JaneGoodallInstitute #Tchimpounga #ConservationInAction #HopeInAction
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Alt Text: Video of a group of researchers releasing a female chimpanzee in a semi-wild forest setting. | Posted on 18/Oct/2025 02:31:50
