GFAS Accredited Sanctuaries and GFAS Verified Sanctuaries

Criteria for a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
Criteria for a GFAS Verified Sanctuary – GFAS Mentors

Sanctuaries by Region

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KEY

GFAS Accredited Sanctuary. Humane and responsible care of the animals has been confirmed by onsite visits by trained inspector(s), and the nonprofit meets the definition of a true sanctuary. In addition to meeting these requirements for verification as a true sanctuary, the facility has additionally achieved Adequate Performance or higher in each of the following areas after a thorough examination against strict criteria, as required for accreditation status: governance, finance, guidelines, education and outreach, staffing, physical facilities, security/safety, and the veterinary medical program.

GFAS Verified Sanctuary. Humane and responsible care of the animals has been confirmed by on an onsite visit by a trained inspector. In addition, the sanctuary meets the definition of a true sanctuary: the facility has nonprofit status, all required licenses and permits, does not engage in commercial trade (with some exceptions allowed such as the purchase of animals who might otherwise end up in slaughter), allows no or restricted contact with the public, only individual welfare-centric research is allowed, and no intentional breeding of animals occurs, with sound practices in place to prevent propagation.
Note that both Accredited and Verified Sanctuaries provide humane and responsible care of the animals, as confirmed by an onsite visit. A “verified” status as opposed to an “accredited” status often reflects constrictions imposed by financial resources or the not-yet-fully-evolved growth of a newer sanctuary.

Alphabetical List of Sanctuaries, by Region

Africa

Ape Action Africa
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.apeactionafrica.org
Ngoa-Ekele, Yaounde
Cameroon

Centre pour Conservation des Chimpanzees
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.projectprimate.org
Parc National du Haut Niger near Faranah
Guinea

CERCOPAN
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.cercopan.org
At Calabar and Rhoko, Cross River State
Nigeria

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.chimfunshi.org.za
Chingola
Zambia

Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (CRP)
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.chimprehab.com
Serrekunda and three islands in River Gambia National Park
Gambia

Drill Ranch
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.pandrillus.org/projects/drill-ranch/
Near Afi River Forest Reserve and at Calabar, Cross River State
Nigeria

Habitat Ecologique et Liberté des Primates (HELP-Congo)
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.help-primates.org
Pointe Noire
Republic of Congo

Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Chimpanzee Eden
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.janegoodall.co.za/
Near Nelspruit
South Africa

Limbe Wildlife Center
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.limbewildlife.org/
Limbe, South West Region
Cameroon

Lola ya Bonobo
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.friendsofbonobos.org
Les Petites Chutes de la Lukaya, just outside Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.ngambaisland.org
Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria near Entebbe
Uganda

Projet Protection des Gorilles – Gabon (PPG Gabon)
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
pasaprimates.org/countries/gabon/40
Franceville
Gabon

Projet Protection des Gorilles-Congo (PPG Congo)
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
pasaprimates.org/countries/congo/37
Brazzaville
Republic of Congo

Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.ida-africa.org
Belabo
Cameroon

Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
pasaprimates.org/countries/kenya/54
Sweetwaters Game Reserve near Nanyuki
Kenya

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.tacugama.com
In the Western Area Forest Reserve, near Freetown
Sierra Leone

Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
pasaprimates.org/countries/congo/38
Near Pointe Noire
Republic of Congo

Vervet Monkey Foundation
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary
Member of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA)
www.vervet.za.org
Tzaneen, Limpopo Province
South Africa

North America

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue
Status: GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
www.saveahorsenow.org
Glenville, Pennsylvania
USA

Big Cat Rescue
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.BigCatRescue.org
Tampa, Florida
USA

Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.bornfreeusa.org/sanctuary
Near San Antonio, Texas
USA

Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, The Fund for Animals
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.blackbeautyranch.org
Murchison, Texas
USA

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.elephants.com
Hohenwald, Tennessee
USA

Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary™
Status: GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
www.equinevoices.org
Green Valley, Arizona
USA

Foster Parrots, Ltd.
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.fosterparrots.com
Rockland, Massachusetts
USA

Habitat for Horses
Status: GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
www.habitatforhorses.org
Galveston County, Texas
USA

The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Verified Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS).
www.animal-sanctuary.org
Santa Fe, New Mexico
USA

Horse Harbor Foundation
Status: GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
http://www.horseharbor.org/
Silverdale, Washington
USA

International Exotic Animal Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.bigcat.org and
www.bearsanctuary.org
Boyd, Texas
USA

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.junglefriends.org
Gainesville, Florida
USA

Last Chance Corral
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary (equine)
www.lastchancecorral.org
Athens, Ohio
USA

Linn County Animal Rescue
Status: GFAS Verified Sanctuary (equine)
www.lcarhorse.com
Lebanon, Oregon
USA

MAARS (Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Services)
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.maars.org
Stillwater, Minnesota
USA

The Oasis Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.the-oasis.org
Benson, Arizona
USA

Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.threeringranch.org
Kona, Hawaii
USA

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.wildlife-rescue.org
Kendalia, Texas
USA

W.O.L.F. Sanctuary
Status: Charter GFAS Accredited Sanctuary/Formerly accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). This sanctuary has begun the process of being renewed this year via the GFAS standards.
www.wolfsanctuary.net
La Porte, Colorado
USA

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GFAS Accredited Sanctuaries and GFAS Verified Sanctuaries

Sanctuaries by Region

KEY

Alphabetical List of Sanctuaries, by Region

Africa

North America