Sierra Leone declares the chimpanzee a 'national animal' Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture, Joseph Ndanema, declares the western chimpanzee a “national animal,” along with announcing several measures aimed at boosting conservation efforts. The statement was made at an event in Freetown honoring world renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall. Two more chimpanzee sanctuaries will be built outside of the capital Freetown. Sierra Leone is home to about 5,500 western chimpanzees, the third largest population in the world. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES