When Citron was just a baby, the forest was his whole world—filled with the comfort of his mother’s arms and the quiet harmony of nature. Then everything changed. Poachers shattered that innocence, killing his parents and capturing him for the illegal wildlife trade.
But fate had other plans.
Citron was rescued and brought to Papaye International, a sanctuary in Cameroon for orphaned chimpanzees. Frightened and fragile, he carried more pain than any young life should bear.
That’s when he met Fabrice “Fiston” Moudoungue.
Fiston, the sanctuary’s most seasoned caregiver, didn’t just care for Citron—he stayed, patiently helping him rebuild trust, heal, and rediscover joy. Slowly, Citron began to laugh, to play, and to hope again.
Today, he roams an island sanctuary with other rescued chimps, but he never forgets the one who stood by him.
In a recent reunion caught on video, Citron ran into Fiston’s arms—not for food, but for love. He wrapped him in a joyful embrace that said everything words couldn’t.
In that moment lived a powerful truth:
Sometimes, family finds us.
And sometimes, love is what saves us.
