TOURISM Minister Rodney Sikumba says there is need for various stakeholders to support the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage so that it can grow and attract domestic and international tourists to the Copperbelt.
Speaking when he graced the 40th Anniversary of the Orphanage at Lusaka’s Alliance Francie the Minister said the initiative has helped Government by teaching people around the surrounding communities to learn alternative sources of livelihood.
He said the Orphanage is closest to what tourists go to see in Rwanda where the main wildlife attraction are the mountain Gorillas, hence, there is need to open the facility to a more touristic feel.
Mr. Sikumba said the Ministry stands ready to hand-hold Chimfunshi in the quest to raise the much-need funds to develop the facility.
And Chimfunshi Orphanage Board Chairperson Sebastian Louis said there is need to take care of the species failure to which they may go extinct in a period of the 30 years.
Louis said 100 years ago, there were more than one (1) million Chimpazees in the world and now there are only about 150,000, 150 of these are at Chimfunshi.
He said the species is threatened by poachers and smugglers for pet trade, poached for bushmeat and others kill them for traditional medicine.
Meanwhile, Chimfunshi Executive Director Peggy Motsch, said the orphanage this year is to raise USD40,000 for its 40th Anniversary to support activities at the facility.
She said Chimfunshi requires significant investment of 1.5 million to 2 million Euros to handle the priorities of eliminating hunger and poverty, to promoting gender equality, and addressing climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem pollution crises in the Chimfunshi Landscape.