"We are combing the area and beyond to bring the chimpanzees back but would not harm them," said a police officer on site.
Local radio stations are regularly broadcasting warnings to residents "to keep a safe distance and inform the sanctuary" if they sight a chimpanzee in their neighborhood.
The area is densely forested and the move to recapture them "would be enduring," according to one villager.
The 100-acre semi-wildlife reserve, housing some 80 animals, was set up in 1995 by a wildlife enthusiast to give a home to orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees.
The sanctuary has been temporarily closed.
Name: Chimpanzee (
Pan troglodytes)
Primary Classification: Hominidae (Great Apes and Humans)
Location: Equatorial Africa
Habitat: Savanna, woodlands, swamps and rainforest.
Diet: Fruits, leaves, seeds, bark, honey, ants, termites and occasionally meat.
Size: Averages 3 to 5 ft in height and 100 to 175 lbs in weight.
Description: Black or brown hair; hairless face that turns dark with age; bulging eyebrows; protrusive lips; very long arms; opposable thumbs and big toes; males have large canines; no ail.
Cool Facts: It is one of the only animals that uses tools, such as a twig that it pokes into termite nests and removes when covered in insects. It is our closest relative, sharing about 98 percent of our genes.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Major Threat(s): Habitat loss and poaching
What Can I Do?: Visit
The Jane Goodall Institute for information on how you can help.
