I sent out an email this morning about our HUGE news. You all got it, right? If not, get yourself signed up for the e-news now.
We’ve been holding onto this news for a little while, and it’s been tough not to let you all in on the information.
You know we share almost everything as it happens, so holding onto such a big secret has felt strange. But, we did not want to do anything to interfere with the ongoing investigations and removal of animals at West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon, Oregon.
I know you are interested in learning everything about George and seeing more photos and videos of him. We are still getting to know him, and we are following strict protocols during the first phase of his quarantine, limiting his exposure to caregivers and keeping everything for him separate from the other chimpanzees.
Huge shout-out to all of the caregivers who carefully prepared for his arrival and have been doting on him when he wants attention and letting him be when he doesn’t. He has a lot of new friends here who look forward to giving him a whole bunch of “firsts” in the coming months.
You know that caring for chimpanzees is an unpredictable and expensive endeavor, and I hope that you will make a welcome donation for George to go towards his care.
I have known about George for a long time. He was born at Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife (no relation to Steve Martin the comedian). When he was just over a year old, he was used for posed photos at a casino. He spent a few years as one of many (over a dozen!) young chimpanzees used as the “star” of a long-running television show in Germany called Unser Charly (Our Charly).
Nothing about George’s infancy or childhood was normal for a chimpanzee. Once trainer Steve Martin and the television show had no more use for him, George was sent to West Coast Game Park Safari.
Like I mentioned in the email I sent out this morning, we can’t say anything about the conditions there that we observed firsthand (yet), but there’s a lot of information out publicly about the many USDA violations this roadside zoo has racked up over the years (helpful note: you can view inspection reports for any facility with a USDA license by using the search function on this page).
George replaced a previous male, Sam, who was taught to smoke. Sam passed away at the roadside zoo and George arrived in 2011, joining a female chimpanzee there named Daphne who had lived with Sam. Daphne died in November, 2023 and George has lived by himself ever since.
The Bandon game park is one many roadside zoos across the United States. Or it was… until last week.
I know that many of you in Coos County have been reporting your concerns about the animals there, and have gotten to know George. Animal welfare and animal rights organizations and rescues have spoken out in the hopes that action would be taken. The authorities that we worked with to get George out of there were full of compassion and allowed us to make sure that George was safe.
We want to thank all of you for all of your efforts and your concerns and for joining us in welcoming him.
More about George soon!
This makes me so angry and frustrated I could cry. Thank you CSNW for all you do for chimps. I know George will thrive in his new environment. He will become a real chimpanzee again. ??
Happy for George
This IS huge news, indeed! How on Earth is it that, after “Chimp Crazy” and other exposes on abused, exploited, and mis-habited chimpanzees is this mistreatment allowed to continue? A roadside zoo, in blue Oregon? For SHAME!
Today’s blog post is frustrating and infuriating to read. At least George has now been rescued and provided sanctuary. I so hope that in the days and weeks to come that he can integrate into a new troop.
I’m so pleased to be affiliated with a sanctuary who has such generous donors to allow us to rescue George. His life will be infinitely improved and we look forward to hearing about his assimilation wth the other chimps, slowly, in the coming months. Thanks to everyone involved who made this happen – J.B.. Diana and other members of their team!
Roadside zoos continue to be a scourge in blue states as well as red. I can think of one such well-known facility right here in Washington, which continues to rack up charges of mistreatment, year after year. A bill recently passed by the Washington legislature addresses some issues dealing with these facilities but much more work needs to be done. Thanks to CSNW, at least one brave chimp has found a forever home. That others may follow when space permits.
George will think he is in heaven once he gets settled in. It will be interesting to eventually watch videos and see more pictures of that cute face. I know we are all so happy that he was able to come to Cle Elum and will live a much better life than he has had.
I’m hoping for Bubba to get another dude to hang with!:fingers_crossed:
What a disgrace that the neglect at that facility was allowed to go on for years. i don’t know how anyone can mistreat animals. Bless all of you for now giving George the life he deserves in a home where he will be loved and given amazing care!
Thank you, CSNW, for doing what’s right and ethical. And LOVING!
we love you George…..so happy he is happy now:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart:
I’m so happy to hear that George has found his way to you. I’m very familiar with the place in Bandon and have wondered where some of the animals have ended up. Thank you so much for what you do.
I have so much hope in my heart for George’s future.
Dear George, Welcome Home! You have no idea yet how good you and your cute face have landed or how much love is being sent your way. xo
I’m so happy that this guy, rescued from such horrible conditions, will find Heaven in the Sanctuary we all love and support. Excited to get to know him from the start, and watch as he integrates into his new life, meets new friends, and feels safety and security. And to watch current chimps get to know him and, I hope, welcome him into their midst. To say thank you is hardly enough.
May I simply say thank you on George’s behalf. All of you are the most amazing people to care so deeply for these special creatures so closely related to us. Thank you so very much! I am looking forward to seeing which group George becomes part of and how he integrates. Bless you.
How wonderful Disna! How many sre there now?
Back to 16 again
Welcome Home George.:revolving_hearts:
You don’t know it yet, but you’ve just won the Lotto. you are now with family that loves you, and that you deserve.
Thank you, CSNW.
This is happy news! So excited to see more of George, got a gazillion questions of course. ? Thank you for giving him sanctuary.
Coos resident here, THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving George a home and the love and care he deserves. Forever grateful for reputable animal sanctuaries like yours. :pray_tone1:
Welcome, sweet George! Your life is about to become wonderful.
Bless you, bless you, bless you! Welcome, sweet George. We are surrounding you with love. You are respected here.
When I received my email titled “Huge News” I didn’t know what to think. I never, ever expected to read that a new chimpanzee was rescued and now residing at the sanctuary! Lucky George, he finally found a safe place to land—he’s home. Finally. There simply aren’t words to express my gratitude to you for taking him in….but of course you would! You are the opposite of everything George has experienced.
I look forward for learning more. I hope the other animals at the roadside zoo find homes in accredited sanctuary settings. There’s a specific roadside establishment near me that I would to see shuttered permanently. It is not an easy thing to do. But your news today gives me renewed hope.
What an unexpected, but AMAZING surprise!!! Welcome to the CSNW family, George!
Looking around online, it seems like George has been living in isolation for over a year and was witnessed exhibiting behaviors consistent with obvious psychological distress. I am so happy he’s finally in a place where he can heal and just be a chimp, likely for the first time in his life. George, you have no idea how many people are already in love with you! (By the way, does anybody else think his cute little face looks a bit like Dora?!)
Yes I do, he has ‘Dora eyes’
You beat me to it, Eli!
I think he looks a LOT like Dora!
George you will finally get the love and safety that you are so deserving of. Welcome home dear George. Thank you CSNW.
Welcome George!!!
How exciting!!
I hope he can one day be a new friend for Burrito, everyones favorite boy needs some male company
I hope so,:fingers_crossed: too!
Welcome handsome George! :monkey_face:I wish you happy bonding with your dedicated caregivers and your future troopmates! :green_heart:?:purple_heart:
As for George’s past, although here in Hungary we don’t have roadside zoos and primates are not allowed to be kept as anyone’s properties “Unser Charly”(“Charly, majom a családban” – that’s the Hungarian title) is being broadcast right now on some commercial TV channel and noone seems to be fazed a bit by the fact that these chimps were seriously exploited for making profit. So, I think, we still have a lot to do to improve our legislation on animal welfare and on raising public awareness on this issue, especially after “Chimp Crazy”.:face_with_monocle:
I was exited to see your email this morning, Diana. Wow, that must have been a hard secret to keep. I had read about that “coastal safari park” being shut down, but i did not know they had a chimp. Their website is still up and you can see pictures of people holding lion and tiger cubs and feeding bear cubs and all the horrible things no one should do with wildlife. i know these things take a long time with investigations amd reports to finally be put out of business. But, it is wonderful that Geirge will be at last in sanctuary. i looked forward to seeing a photo abd now, here is that handsome boy. . What memories he must have of his transient life all with humans and only briefly another chimp. The thing
I am most excited about, and i know this will be a long time coming, is who will be George’s first chimp friend at CSNW and when will he freely climb his first structure. Bless everyone involved in this wonderful rescue operation, freeing all the creatures from this roadside attraction.
thank you for taking in george. i live close to the place he was rescued from. about abyear ago i took my little girls there to tlseethe animals and it broke our hearts. the animals all looked so sad and look like they have been starving. im glad George is somewhere safe now. thank you for everything you are doing for him.
Thankyou, Diana, for sharing this huge and exciting news and “Hello, George! you are going to be loved and living the good life with new friends and wonderful :sparkling_heart:family”.
The worst is behind George and thanks to everyone involved in his rescue he will finally live the life he deserved. From the look of this handsome guy I can foresee quite a few sweethearts :sparkling_heart:
Well, that news came right out of the blue, Diana. I’m sitting here crying tears of rage for the low life who still think it’s OK to keep animals like that, and also from the sadness of seeing that bewildered face, not knowing what’s happening to him. Those eyes say it all. He doesn’t know it yet, but with your wonderful care, good nutrition and patience he will learn to trust and enjoy his haven of love and safety. The hesitancy in taking sips of his drink was heartbreaking….what a sad life he’s had so far. But no longer……..please tell him that there are thousands of us, glad that he has found his forever home with both human and chimp friends and loving him to bits already.
Thank you all so much for taking this beautiful boy in.. i used to work at the park he was in, in 2022.. george is a very sweet lovable chimp.i worked in the gift shop and when i worked i would go out and sèe and talked to him..He deserves the best life a chimp can have.. once again thank you for saving him from that place..
Thank you for showing him that kindness
WELCOME GEORGE!!! Welcome to Paradise! I am so sorry for what you went through…..but as you settle in, you will now begin to live – really live …a new chapter in your life. THANK YOU CSNW, for saving George. I had seen some news about this terrible place he was held captive, but did not know there was a chimp involved. Of course, my heart ached for all of the animals there. For sure, you had to keep the news quiet for the reasons listed, but I am so PROUD of you guys to step in and help this remarkable individual. I cannot wait to hear more about him, and I am certain we will see him blossom in his own time. WELCOME GEORGE!!!
I am so glad that you were able to rescue him. How people can be so mean and treat innocent animals that way I will never understand.
Thank goodness he has found his way to you in his forever home will he will be taken care of and free to be himself and have a family.
Thank you so much for all you do for the chimps!!!!!
Everyone here in the area of Coos County/Oregon Coast is absolutely screaming with joy you have George. We have been screaming for years for someone to step in. SO excited to see his future with you! Sending lots of love and hugs.
Erin WE are screamin with joy to love and care for George. This is the BEST chimp sanctuary. Small and personal with the BEST loving caregivers AND supporters from afar! We love this place and “our” chimps.
George is very handsome. Thank you for saving him from that awful place. I am so happy for him. it makes me so angry what these places do to chimps. I am a member of Peta and have been advocating for the release of the Chimps at that Myrtle Beach Safari .. sadly there are several chimps still there being treated cruelly and exploited which should be illegal somehow these people continue to get away with what they are doing. One thing plces like this sanctuary and others do is educate the public about chimps and how they should live a natural life in a chimp group. Its my hope that someday these magnificent beings will be better protected. Thanks for all you do. I look forward to seeing George playing and having a great life.
Welcome, George!
So happy you’ve come; now, here’s a prayer that you get to be a part of a family soon!
Thank you thank you!!!!! I was sickened by the treatment of the animals at that “zoo”! I live in Coos county and am so relieved it is shut down and the animals will have better lives!
I live in Bandon and I am sooooo grateful this place was finally shut down. Thank you to all involved. And thank you for taking George. I hope he gets all the love and care he deserves.
OMG I’m SOOOOOO EXCITED!!! I couldn’t even finish reading all of the comments before writing my own. So much has already been said though… Lucky lucky George! He has no idea how good his life is about to get. He has no idea how much he is already adored and loved by all of us here. He has no idea that he landed in the best of all possible places. I can’t wait to watch him thrive and meet the others. I can’t wait to see who he connects with, where he’s placed. Oh, if we only had dear sweet mama Jodi to welcome him and take care of him. And Yes he looks like Dora! Again, I am just absolutely excited out of my skin! Thank you, everyone, for making this happen. You are all just fabulous loving huge-hearted people!
I also can’t wait to get to know all the new George followers! we have a great group here. Welcome! Yay!
Thank you so much for taking George into the sanctuary. I can’t wait to learn more about him! :two_hearts:
George won the chimp lottery. CSNW will be amazing for him!
my family and i visited the park multiple times. my heart broke for george. i feel that information that is being put out on the death of the female is not correct. george had been living in his small cage by himself. im going to be going back on pictures to find dates to confirm this. i thank God george is going to be surrounded by love and other chimpanzees. to feel grass and run and climb. he deserves the best.
I am very late to the party…My heart sings for George and the home he now has. He could not ask for a better sanctuary to call home.
Thank you for taking George! Cant wait to hear how he settles in with you and his new friends ?
We met George in 2015 and he was the sweetest chimp. He interacted with us and we have a video of him just being silly. But he looked sad, I hope he lives his best life and I’m so sorry we ever supported where he came from.