Contact:
Patty Finch
GFAS Executive Director
[email protected]
1.928.472.1173
Doug Cress
PASA Executive Director
[email protected]
1.503.238.8077
Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) members are first in Africa to earn
‘Verified’ status from Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)
March 25, 2010 (Washington, DC) – The 18 members of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance
(PASA), which collectively care for over 3,000 orphaned primates, are the first animal rescue
centers in Africa to be Verified as meeting all the requirements of a true sanctuary by the Global
Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).
The verification status means that each PASA member sanctuary meets the comprehensive and
rigorous definition of a true sanctuary, and provides humane and responsible care of the animals
according to the guidelines of GFAS, which is the only globally recognized organization
providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries. The verification status also
provides a clear and trusted means for the public, donors and government agencies worldwide to
recognize PASA and its member sanctuaries as credible organizations that adhere to the true
mission of providing safe haven and humane care for the primates entrusted to their care.
“Being a member of PASA already means that the sanctuary has agreed to abide by the PASA
Code of Conduct, which assumes a number of values that require all members and their staffs to
exhibit a concern for the primates, integrity, transparency, fairness, conscientiousness,
professionalism, and personal and institutional commitment to conservation,” said Patty Finch,
Executive Director of GFAS. “It gives us great pleasure to add the Global Federation of Animal
Sanctuaries’ status of Verified to these individual sanctuaries, further confirming their adherence
to high standards of humane and responsible care, and the successful meeting the GFAS
standards defining a true sanctuary.”
PASA was founded in 2000 to unite the primate rescue and rehabilitation centers across Africa.
The organization provides care to chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, drills and other endangered
primates, and also places an emphasis on conservation education, law enforcement, veterinary
training, professional development, and community outreach.
“Working together in PASA, the sanctuaries have been able to achieve high levels of cooperation
in response to primates in need of placement,” explained Doug Cress, “PASA serves as a forum
in which the sanctuaries can work together to solve problems, and also speak as a unified voice.
PASA is truly unique in the world and we are so pleased and honored for our individual
sanctuaries to be recognized by GFAS.”
The PASA member sanctuaries are the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (Gambia),
Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage (Zambia), Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Uganda),
Lola ya Bonobo (Democratic Republic of Congo), HELP-Congo (Congo), Tacugama
Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Sierra Leone), CERCOPAN (Nigeria), Limbe Wildlife Center
(Cameroon), Projet Protection des Gorilles-Gabon (Gabon), Drill Ranch (Nigeria), Projet
Protection des Gorilles-Congo (Congo), Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Kenya), Centre
pour Conservation des Chimpanzees (Guinea), Ape Action Africa (Cameroon), Tchimpounga
Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre (Congo), Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) - Chimpanzee Eden
(South Africa), Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center (Cameroon), and Vervet Monkey
Foundation (South Africa).
Finch stated, “Many of these award-winning sanctuaries actually raise the bar for sanctuaries
worldwide, in terms of what sanctuaries can aspire to achieve in community outreach, education,
and the wedding of conservation and the humane concern for each individual animal.
Furthermore, the devotion that many of the staff in these sanctuaries have demonstrated -putting
the needs of animals first, regardless of the tremendous personal and heroic sacrifices involved,
both in times of peace and war - is just awe inspiring. I urge everyone to give generously to
these valiant sanctuaries.”
Contributions can be placed via www.pasaprimates.org/friends.
For additional information on GFAS, please visit www.sanctuaryfederation.org. For additional
information on PASA, please visit www.pasaprimates.org
About Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated
to the sole purpose of strengthening and supporting the work of animal sanctuaries in the United
States and abroad. The goal of GFAS in working with and assisting sanctuaries is to ensure they
are supported, honored, recognized and rewarded for meeting important criteria in providing care
to the animals in residence. GFAS was founded in 2007 by animal protection leaders from a
number of different organizations in response to virtually unchecked and hidden animal
exploitation of animals for human entertainment and financial profit. These founding leaders sit
on the GFAS Board of Directors to continue guiding the organization’s work in a collaborative
manner. They represent top leadership from Born Free USA, The Humane Society of the United
States, World Society for the Protection of Animals, American Anti-Vivisection Society, and
International Fund for Animal Welfare.
About Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
The Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization that unites
the rehabilitation centers across Africa caring for over 3,000 chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos,
drills and other endangered primates. PASA members emphasize sound management, veterinary
healthcare, conservation education, husbandry, disease protocol, non-invasive research, data
collection, reintroduction, and rehabilitation, among others, and have grown into an effective
lobby for a wide variety of primate conservation issues. PASA is a partner of the UNEP’s Great
Ape Survival Project (GRASP), and is a member of the Species Survival Network (SSN).