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Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Madam Nabeela Tunis, has joined the global community in commemorating World Chimpanzee Day, observed annually on July 14 in honour of the world’s closest genetic relatives chimpanzees.
The date marks the anniversary of the groundbreaking arrival of Dr. Jane Goodall in 1960 to what is now Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where she began her pioneering research on wild chimpanzees.
In recognition of that historic moment, World Chimpanzee Day was established by a coalition of NGOs, including the Jane Goodall Institute, North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Speaking in celebration of the day, Minister Tunis stated,
“We proudly celebrate the chimpanzee, Sierra Leone’s national animal and a global symbol of intelligence, resilience, and biodiversity.”
She emphasized that 2025 is the ‘Year of Ecotourism’ in Sierra Leone, a campaign designed to spotlight the country’s unique biodiversity and environmental treasures.
“We will continue to highlight the vital role our chimpanzees play in promoting sustainable tourism, forest conservation, and community empowerment,” she said.
Madam Tunis concluded with a call to action “Tourism is everybody’s business. Let’s protect what makes Sierra Leone unique.”
Chimpanzees are critically endangered species and are genetically the closest living relatives to humans, sharing more than 98% of our DNA. While often confused with monkeys, chimpanzees are actually great apes and, unlike monkeys, do not have tails.
As Sierra Leone positions itself as a leader in ecotourism and wildlife conservation, the Ministry’s support for World Chimpanzee Day reinforces the nation’s commitment to protecting its rich natural heritage for future generations
