Chimp Locked In A Small Cage For 34 Years Gets His Own Island

For more than three decades, Canoe the chimpanzee knew nothing but life behind bars.

Stolen from Africa as a baby after poachers killed his family, Canoe was trafficked through the illegal wildlife trade and eventually ended up at a school in Bangkok. For 34 years, he lived alone in a tiny metal cage with no privacy, no room to roam, and no escape from the constant presence of people.

When Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand learned about his heartbreaking situation, founder Edwin Wiek refused to give up on him. It took seven years of persistence and negotiations, but they finally secured Canoe’s freedom.

His rescuers gave him something he’d never truly had before—his own island sanctuary.

At first, Canoe was unsure of his new surroundings. But little by little, he began exploring the grass beneath his feet, climbing trees, swinging on ropes, and soaking up the sunshine. For the first time in decades, there were no bars, no concrete walls—just open space, fresh air, and the freedom to simply be a chimpanzee.

His rescuers say it’s almost as if he has been able to leave his painful past behind. Today, Canoe spends his days surrounded by trees, water, and grass, finally living the peaceful life that every wild animal deserves.