Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1993, the sanctuary has about 70 orangutans and chimpanzees who were formerly used in entertainment, scientific research, or the exotic pet trade.
[2] The sanctuary sits on 100 acres of land in rural Florida, southwest of Orlando.
The backstory of six of the chimpanzees at the Center for Great Apes was featured in the TV documentary series Chimp Crazy.
As a result of a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals lawsuit, they were removed from a facility in Missouri and sent to the sanctuary in 2021.
[4] The Center for Great Apes is the only accredited orangutan sanctuary in the United States.