Farah's Story — How It All Began

Farah in chains before his rescue

On the 9th of September 2017, a small vehicle pulled up at Ape Action Africa carrying a 10 month old chimpanzee named Farah. He had travelled almost 400 kilometres by car to reach us, confiscated from a wildlife trafficker who had been keeping him as a pet. His mother had been killed by poachers. By the time he arrived he was exhausted, dehydrated, and frightened. It was the beginning of a journey that none of us who were there will ever forget.

The first hours

When a baby chimpanzee arrives at Ape Action Africa, there is no rushing in. No picking up, no fuss, no overwhelming them with noise or contact. A baby chimpanzee is not a baby human, and the way we approach their care has to reflect that. Farah had already experienced the very worst side of humans at just 10 months old. The only way to begin rebuilding his trust was slowly, quietly, and entirely on his terms.

Rachel, our Director, was one of the first people to sit with him, gently offering him water as he began to settle. That moment of calm and patience was the very start of Farah's new life.

Finding his feet

Once Farah had begun to settle and build his confidence, he was introduced to the other baby chimpanzees in his group. In those early days he grew particularly close to Jenny, one of the youngest in the group, and the two were rarely apart. But as time went on that bond began to shift. It was Lomie who truly captured his heart. Farah became Lomie's devoted shadow, following him everywhere he went. Lomie, to his credit, was patient about the whole arrangement.

Farah (top left)

A natural climber

One of the most joyful things to watch in those early months was Farah discovering the trees. He had been practising on the play structures in the baby enclosure and the transition to real forest climbing was seamless. Up he went, higher and higher, pushing his limits a little further every single day. He was brave enough to explore alone but always preferred a partner when given the choice, usually Lomie, sometimes Paula.

On the ground he was just as curious. Leaves, branches, insects, the forest floor held endless fascination for him. You could often find him watching the older chimpanzees with intense concentration, studying every grooming session, every climb, every interaction. Learning, always learning.

Farah (right)

Food, glorious food

It had not always been easy to get Farah to eat well. In his earliest days his appetite was uncertain and mealtimes required patience. But once he found his stride with food, there was no stopping him. His armpit fat became something of a running joke among the team. At communal feeding times he would eye the others with obvious suspicion when they got anywhere near what he considered his share, a chimpanzee who had come a long way from the fragile arrival of his first days.

Where Farah is today

That frightened, exhausted little chimpanzee who arrived in September 2017 is unrecognisable today. Farah is a settled, confident, and happy member of his own chimpanzee family at Ape Action Africa, surrounded by friends and living the life he was always meant to have.

Every rescue, every careful introduction, every patient hour spent sitting quietly and letting trust grow on its own terms, it all leads to moments like this. That is what Farah's story is about. And that is what keeps us going. 💚

If you would like to support the care we provide to Farah and all of our residents, you can donate at apeactionafrica.org/donate