Remember Zizi the gorilla?

Rescued last year from the illegal wildlife trade, Zizi was just an infant - seized from traffickers, dehydrated, and terrified.

She spent her first weeks in our care under constant veterinary observation, before beginning a complex cross-border transfer to the Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of Congo, managed by the Jane Goodall Institute.

Now, months later, we’ve received new updates - and Zizi is adapting.

She’s made visible progress: physically stronger, increasingly alert, and - most heartening of all - forming a bond with another young orphaned chimpanzee at the sanctuary. This early socialisation is essential for her long-term rehabilitation and emotional development.

Zizi’s story reminds us that rescue is only the first step. What comes next - proper care, the right environment, and species-appropriate companionship - is what makes recovery possible.

We're proud to see her beginning that next chapter.

In memory of Dr. Jane Goodall - whose lifelong dedication to primates made stories like Zizi’s possible. Her legacy continues in every life that gets a second chance.