Six rescued chimpanzees begin their journey to their new forever home

Six rescued chimpanzees went through Fresno as they made their way from a closed California wildlife refuge to their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

The journey was made possible by the Chimpanzees in Need fundraising campaign.

The chimpanzees Lucky, Cy, Dora, Gordo, Rayne, and Terry are affectionately called “The Lucky Six.”

The chimpanzees will live out their retirement years on 90 acres of farm and forested land.

"It is just thrilling to see ‘The Lucky Six’ set off towards their new sanctuary home, where a brighter future awaits them," said Erika Fleury, program director for the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA)

The move is the result of the Chimpanzees in Need grassroots fundraising campaign that emerged as part of an urgent rescue effort when 42 chimpanzees, most of whom were retired from biomedical research, were left in limbo when the Wildlife Waystation closed unexpectedly in 2019.

The chimpanzees are expected to arrive at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest later this weekend.

Anyone wishing to check on the progress of the move can check in with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest on Facebook and Instagram.

To learn more about the chimpanzee rescue effort and how to help, visit www.chimpsinneed.org

All donations go directly toward the continuing care and rehoming efforts of the chimpanzees.