Yoko arrived at the Sanctuary on 24/03/2025, after an unprecedented operation involving several organizations that mobilized to make his transfer possible.

Yoko was the last remaining chimpanzee at Biopark 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.

The transfer of Yoko to the Brazilian Sanctuary marked a milestone for Colombia, which became a country without great apes in cages and plans to ratify a law that will permanently prohibit the entry of great apes and other exotic animals into the country.

Transfer of Yoko – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eQmCTxqq_Y8?feature=share

Arrival at the Sanctuary – https://youtube.com/shorts/4fE3laYcIC8

One week at the Sanctuary – https://youtube.com/shorts/7WeLBXakYsE