Oregon Public Broadcasting: How the pandemic is affecting primate sanctuaries in Africa

Dr. Sheri Speede is Founder and Director of a sanctuary for chimpanzees in Cameroon. But when the country closed its borders because of the global pandemic, Speede was stuck in her second home in Oregon.

Jacky & Hope, Photo courtesy of Jacques Gillon

Gregg Tully, the Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (based in Portland), says primate sanctuaries are facing multiple threats right now. Most sanctuaries have closed their gates for fear that the primates themselves could become infected by the virus. And many sanctuaries rely on visitors as their primary source of income. Speede and Tully join Oregon Public Broadcasting to talk about these challenges.