Center for Great Apes is a charity organization based in Wauchula, Florida, dedicated to the care and protection of great apes. Located at 5843 Van Simmons Road, this nonprofit provides a sanctuary for retired and rescued orangutans and chimpanzees, focusing on their long-term welfare. The center’s mission revolves around offering a safe and natural environment where these animals can live with dignity and receive attentive care tailored to their needs.
As a charity, the Center for Great Apes operates with a commitment to ethical treatment and conservation education. The organization collaborates with various partners to promote awareness about the challenges facing great apes in the wild, such as habitat loss and exploitation. Their work includes rehabilitation efforts that prioritize the physical and psychological health of the animals, ensuring they have access to appropriate nutrition, medical care, and enrichment activities.
Serving the Wauchula community and beyond, the center relies on donations and volunteer support to maintain its facilities and programs. While not open for public tours on weekends, the sanctuary continues its essential operations every day, emphasizing the importance of stability and routine in the lives of the great apes under its care. The Center for Great Apes stands as a vital resource for animal welfare and conservation efforts in Florida, offering a model for compassionate sanctuary management.
