Columbus Zoo Sends $10,000 To West African Sanctuary

The Columbus Zoo has sent emergency funds to help a struggling West African chimpanzee sanctuary. The Ebola outbreak, which has killed nearly 5,000 people, also threatens economic stability. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone lost half its income as visitors vanished and conservationists halted research as a result of the outbreak. Columbus Zoo Field Conservation manager Rebecca Rose says the zoo sent $10,000 to help. She says the sanctuary takes in endangered apes rescued from illegal pet and bush meat trading. "When local authorities do confiscate an animal…if they don't have a place to take that animal, they will not confiscate it," Rose says. The Sierra Leone sanctuary cares for 90 chimpanzees and has 27 employees. Rose says monthly expenses are about $15,000.