Dorothy Basemera
Communications and Marketing Officer
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary celebrated the naming of their newest baby chimpanzee as 'RR' on June 20, 2026, honoring the conservation legacy of the late Rajiv Ruparelia.
NGAMBA ISLAND, UGANDA — A baby chimpanzee at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was officially named “RR” in a special ceremony held on 20 June 2026.
The naming ceremony honored the late Rajiv Ruparelia’s conservation spirit and recognized the Ruparelia Foundation and the family’s continued support toward wildlife conservation efforts and the work of Chimpanzee Trust, in particular, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The baby chimpanzee, a male born on 29 November 2025, is less than one year old and has become a symbolic representation of ongoing efforts to protect and rehabilitate orphaned and rescued chimpanzees in Uganda.
The ceremony brought together conservation leaders, wildlife and tourism stakeholders, media, and invited guests to celebrate and highlight the role of partnerships in advancing wildlife protection and tourism. This initiative emphasized the importance of conservation partnerships and the need to strengthen efforts to protect Uganda’s endangered primates.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary continues to play a key role in chimpanzee rescue, care, and conservation education in Uganda. Nestled on Lake Victoria, the sanctuary provides a safe haven for rescued primates while fostering awareness about the threats facing wild populations.
About Chimpanzee Trust
The Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust) was founded as a Non-Governmental Organization in 1998 to promote the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of chimpanzees and their habitats in particular, and wildlife in general. It was established as a combined national and international initiative and a globally recognized collaborative conservation effort, geared towards developing and implementing a long term strategy for the conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat, with the immediate purpose of establishing a chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island, on Lake Victoria in Uganda.
Ngamba Island is located 23 kilometers south west of Entebbe, in Lake Victoria, and is now home to 55 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees.
For press inquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact:
Dorothy Basemera
Communications and Marketing Officer
Chimpanzee Trust
Email: info@chimpanzeetrust.org
Phone: +256755221608
