Volunteers from Friends of Chimp Eden had more fun than a barrel of monkeys this month when they joined hands to renovate the beloved chimpanzee sanctuary.

The non-profit organisation was founded by Sarah Koster, who saw a need to renovate the sanctuary after it had began deteriorating over the past years.

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“We started the project about a year ago and reached out to the community for help,” Koster explained. Volunteers came together to repaint the building to give the sanctuary a much-needed facelift.

“On March 28 it will be Chimp Eden’s 20th birthday and we would like to get everything ready for the celebration we have planned,” Koster shared.

Their goal is to raise R50 000 (or equivalent in construction material donations). These donations will be used to upgrade and refresh the restaurant area, with any profits directly supporting the conservation of chimpanzees.

Koster shared her gratitude towards all the local businesses who donated paint and equipment for the restoration project. She also thanked the volunteers for their hard work.

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The sanctuary, which was originally founded by the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, provides a safe haven for chimpanzees rescued from across Africa. The sanctuary will also celebrate on what would have been Goodall’s 92nd birthday after she passed away on October 1 last year.