After months of documentation procedures and two days of travel, Yoko, a 38-year-old chimpanzee, finally arrives in Brazil on Monday, March 24, 2025. He will be a new resident of the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, affiliated with the GAP Project.

Yoko was the last remaining chimpanzee at Bioparque Ukumari in Pereira, Colombia. His story gained attention in July 2023 when his companions, Pancho and Chita, were shot and killed after escaping from the zoo area.

The case of Pancho, Chita and Yoko reinforced the necessary discussion about the problems of chimpanzees on display in zoos, as well as the importance of relocating wild animals to sanctuary environments, free from public visitation and managed in more suitable settings for their integration and welfare.

In his childhood, Yoko was captured in the wild and trafficked to Colombia, where he lived for several years under the control of a drug trafficker. During this period, he was exploited, lived in chains, and was forced into habits completely against his nature. He was then sent to a circus in Venezuela, where he continued to be exploited until he was rescued by authorities at the border of the two countries in the early 2000s. He then passed through several institutions before arriving at Bioparque Ukumari in 2018.

Great Apes free from cages!

The transfer of Yoko to the Brazilian Sanctuary marks a milestone for Colombia, which now becomes a country without great apes in cages.

Animal rights organizations that worked on Yoko’s case are now preparing to ratify a law that will permanently prohibit the entry of great apes and other exotic animals into the country. This represents a significant achievement for the cause and an example to be followed by other countries that still keep chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and bonobos in zoos and commercial facilities.

The Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba

Yoko will complete his quarantine in a specially prepared enclosure of approximately 5,000 square meters. After this period, the priority will be to implement the best strategy for his integration into the Sanctuary, evaluating which groups and/or companions would offer the best chance for interaction and coexistence.

The Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba is the largest of its kind in Latin America. Currently, it houses about 250 animals, including 42 chimpanzees – Yoko is the 43rd – and other small primates and birds. Over its 25-year history, 32 other chimpanzees have also enjoyed their final years at the Sanctuary after being victims of mistreatment.

The Sanctuary has five hectares of area and 63 enclosures for chimpanzees – some with 1,000 square meters, divided into 14 complexes. The facilities are prepared for expansion and reception of other animals rescued from situations of mistreatment.

The GAP Project Brazil/International and the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba thank the collective effort of all institutions involved in Yoko’s transfer process, which, in an unprecedented public-private partnership, made the operation possible.

Special thanks to the Government of Colombia and competent authorities, Federal Government of Brazil, Ibama, MAPA, Viracopos Airport, Avianca, Great Ape Project Spain, and Great Ape Project Colombia.