Who We Are

We founded ‘Friends of CSWCT’ after a visit to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. Seeing all of the important work done by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) sparked our passion for chimpanzees and the people dedicated to serving them. In 2014, we started using the name ‘Friends of Chimps’ and we have been speaking up for our chimp friends ever since.

Over the years, we have maintained a special relationship with Ngamba Island and the Trust – something you will see reflected throughout this site and the work we do. While they were our original inspiration, we care about all chimps. That’s why the conservation and welfare of chimpanzees worldwide has always been at the heart of our mission and it’s what motivates us to support of all kinds of chimpanzee projects and to build our relationships with schools, zoos and other non-profits.

What We Do


raise-funds-icon

Raise funds for projects supporting the:

  • Long-term health and welfare of captive chimps such as veterinary care, food, medical supplies, staff training and the rescue and transport of chimps to sanctuaries
  • Emergency situations that directly impact the welfare of both chimpanzees and the people caring for them
  • Conservation initiatives that support the long-term preservation of chimpanzees in the wild and their natural habitat
  • Community development projects that increase food and income security for people living near populations of wild chimps and/or areas where known human-wildlife conflict has occurred in the past

collaborate-icon

Collaborate with Schools, Corporations and other Non-Profits to:

  • Increase education, awareness and excitement about chimpanzee social behavior, their environment and conservation status
  • Spark the imaginations of young people to nurture their interest and lifetime commitment to philanthropic work in general and hopefully to chimpanzees specifically
  • Expand and leverage social networks across organizations to increase the success and long-term sustainability of all the organizations dedicated to the care and conservation of chimpanzees


OUR TEAM

We are a 99% volunteer organization. Meet some of our Board Members, all of whom are volunteers and advocates for the welfare and conservation of chimpanzees.


Nancy Merrick

Nancy Merrick

Nancy Merrick, MD, MSPH is a physician, a former student and long-time friend of Dr. Jane Goodall, and has conducted research on chimpanzees at Dr. Goodall’s Gombe Stream Research Centre and the Stanford Outdoor Primate Facility. She is the author of “Among Chimpanzees,” published by Beacon Press, founder of the advocacy website ChimpSaver.org and, in addition to being a board member, is currently serving as Board Chair.


Rebecca Watkins

Rebecca Watkins

Rebecca Watkins is a chemist by trade, and an animal lover by design. She has volunteered with several non-profit groups ever since 2002 and joined the Friends of Chimps Board after visiting Uganda in 2014. She currently serves as Treasurer.


Stacey Wahl

Stacey Wahl

Stacey Wahl is a retired IT Supervisor but her real passion is animals, both domesticated and wild. She travels to experience wildlife throughout the world, and has a particular interest in the welfare of chimpanzees. She is currently serving as the Secretary for Friends of Chimps.


Maureen McCarthy

Maureen McCarthy

Maureen McCarthy, PhD has studied chimpanzees living in fragmented forests of Uganda for nearly 15 years, including as a collaborator with the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project. In 2021, Maureen joined Friends of Chimps as a board member.


Jim Moore

Jim Moore

Jim Moore, PhD studied chimpanzee ecology in western Tanzania for about 25 years, and has always been interested in the sometimes troubled interface between research on apes and their welfare and conservation. He joined Friends of Chimps as a board member in 2014.


Sarah Etheridg

Sarah Etheridge

Sarah Etheridge, PhD, has worked in primate conservation for many years, including with chimpanzees in Uganda and orangutans and gibbons in Borneo. She has also conducted research on the interconnection of human and wild chimpanzee populations. She is associate professor of Anthropology at College of the Canyons, and joined Friends of Chimps in 2022.