Hi Everyone!

Welcome to JACK’s weekly post: today, I’ll speak about COCO, the latest chimpanzee orphan that arrived at JACK on April 10th.

Just like most of the seized orphan chimps of JACK,  Coco was seen for the first time by authorities here in Lubumbashi. Hardly fed, very sick, the baby had a long rope around his neck and was sucking his finger as if he were seeking relief and confidence. It was in Lubumbashi on the 7th of November 2006; Coco was in the back yard of a General of the Congolese Army.

Inspectors of Environment couldn’t seize him: Coco was illegally detained by a “high ranking” soldier: each time the inspectors approached the house, they were threatened  and intimidated.

A few days later, on the 28th of November, Coco was found in another house: he had been moved, still belonged to the same owner and was for sale: 600 USD. 

Seeing all these terrible pictures of Coco and knowing that there might be enormous risks in meeting the owner, Franck decided to go to this new place: he absolutely wanted to save that baby .  On arrival, Franck found a poor Coco staying outside in the rain, with his long rope and several dogs surrounding him.

No agreement could be reached: if Franck wanted to get Coco, he had to pay… and you know, we can’t do that. To buy a chimp  would mean that JACK keeps  the illegal chimpanzee trade going and would be guilty of the slaughter of a whole chimpanzee family.  Therefore, with plenty of regrets and pain, Franck left Coco to his sad fate.

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The place he  was in was  full of urine and dirt;  Coco still kept his fingers in his mouth and was apparently living hard times .

Coco indeed was being trained to attack any person  approaching the owner’s truck. It sometimes happen to have your petrol stolen here and therefore the little chimp was attached to the truck and ready to bite you as soon as you came too close to the petrol tank.

Coco was easy to recognise: he had a black spot on his right cheek and very often had his fingers in his mouth. Each time you tried to take his hand from his mouth, he became aggressive and nearly bit you !

Later on, in early 2007, when the inspectors went again to the owner’s place, we were told Coco had died. In a former post, I sent you Coco’s picture mentionning he had passed away

November 2007, someone  had seen a baby chimpanzee at a friend’s place: an expatriate who had bought the chimp on the street because the baby was in a horrible condition.

Many times, Franck tried to be in touch with the new owner to see what was going on. But, feeling that the expatriate guy had very few interest in the matter, Franck took the decision to visit the man at his office.  The new owner spoke about  “his” baby called Coco and, immediately,  when looking at the pictures, Franck recognised  the black spot on the right cheek… Coco was still ALIVE !!!

But, unfortunately, things didn’t turn up so easily. For reasons that are still unexplained, the expatriate man had doubts about our action of saving chimpanzee orphans and handed over Coco to a person of the presidential entourage. This person apparently promised  that Coco would be released in a sanctuary in Kinshasa - a sanctuary that of course doesn’t exist !!!

People started calling the Refuge saying there was a chimp in the residence of the President. Unfortunately, despite the intervention of the local authorities, nothing could be done…

Then, on April 6th, for the second time, the DRC President visited JACK.  As a result of this, in a few days time, Coco, who was in the house of the Head of State without the President’s knowing, was brought at the Refuge Centre. This act was very symbolic and JACK thanks Mister Joseph KABILA KABANGE, President of the DRC,  of having given Coco the opportunity to join his species…

To us, these moments were magic especially because it was Coco and also because this baby had been tracked for so long  by authorities…

Coco arriving at JACK

Today, Coco is doing well. He is a gentle little boy recovering from all that trauma he had been through for the last years.

He’s very strong, eats everything and is very independent.

With the latest newcomer, it means the Centre now takes care of 15 young ones. We have to provide extra accomodation and to improve facilities as the babies are getting stronger.  These days have been very very busy.  Things must be fixed as well and this time we need your support: to continue our improvements in order to give the best to the orphans of the Centre, we must buy a particular machine that combines (1) generator AND (2) melding machine. JACK currently can’t afford buying such equipment and can’t continue renting one;  it costs  a fortune !!! Therefore, I do ask you, dear readers, if you could help the Refuge: such machine costs about 2600 USD….

Pro Forma Invoice

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Fixing the night enclosure

 Thanks already beforehand to all of you who can help !

Thanks also for the readers below for their latest donations:

- (1) monthly donations : Birgitta S (10$), “Anonymous” (10$)

- (2) one time donations : Oliver T (25), “Anonymous” (50), Wanda (35$)

One more thing before ending: JACK really appreciated the gesture of the President of DRC and wants to thank Mister Joseph KABILA KABANGE, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for his interest : his act should be an example to all the ones detaining and mistreating Great Apes !

Roxane

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Early April,  when Franck was in Sierra Leone, different authorities came to visit our Refuge Centre.

At first, I  had the opportunity to meet the National DRC Minister of Environment, Mr. José ENDUNDO BONONGE, who was really amazed to see what private people like us are doing for Congolese conservation.

On April 2nd, DRC National Minister of Environment paid a visit at JACK

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I had an interesting meeting with him and the Minister really seemed interested in helping JACK finding the appropriated lands to introduce the orphans of our Refuge. This will be a great step forward: since the early beginning, JACK has been working with Congolese Government but has never had any financial support from it. Today, maybe, DRC will support the next stage of our project which is to get funds in order to release the orphans of our Centre… Lets wait and see !!!

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 Other Congolese authorities came with the DRC National Minister of Environment: (1) Mr. Edmond SHABANI KIANZALE C.E.O. of the Congolese Zoological and Botanical Gardens, (2) Mrs. Thérèse LUKENGE KAPWIBWE MWENZE, Katanga Minister of Environment and (3) Mr. Kongolo BIN MALOBA, Katanga Coordinator of Environment.

From the left to the right: (1) Mr. Kongolo BIN MALOBA, Katanga Coordinator of Environment (2) Roxane (3) DRC national Minister of Environment, Mr. José ENDUNDO (4) Katanga Provincial Minister of Environment, Mrs. Thérèse LUKENGE 

Then, a few days later, much to my surprise, the Governor of the Katanga Province , Mr. Moïse KATUMBI CHAPWE, AND the DRC President, Mr. Joseph KABILA KABANGE, had a non official visit at JACK. I didn’t know they were coming and didn’t expect them at all ! So, imagine my estonishment when I saw an immense crowd approching the Refuge, DRC President leading the march ! At first, I hardly recognised him, but the crowd was shouting “Welcome Joseph! Joseph!”

On April 6th, DRC President came to visit JACK

Actually, it wasn’t the first visit of the DRC President as, last year, in April 2007, Mr. Joseph KABILA had come and met Franck. So, he knew already about the project and noticed the different improvements that had been done for the last months.

From the left to the right: (1) Governor of Katanga Province, Mr. Moïse KATUMBI (2) Roxane and (3) DRC President, Mr. Joseph KABILA

Katanga Governor, Mr. KATUMBI, accompanied the President and it was his first time  at JACK. He seemed interested and I hope he’ll come back again. 

Nothing was prepared to welcome them. I had been taken by surprise. Although their visit was very short, I explained the purpose and aims of JACK and both authorities have been able to appreciate the efforts and the work that have been provided to protect the species…

All these meetings and visits were more than very interesting. The only thing I can say to the authorities is “thank you for your intrest”. Now,  we just hope some good things will result from all this…

Roxane

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So glad to be back!! Had to be off for a while as Franck had left DRC for several meetings and I had to manage work, family and chimps all on my own!

My husband flew to Sierra Leone in order to attend the PASA workshop organised at TACUGAMA CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY.

PASA workshop was hosted by Tacugama

Our Refuge Center isn’t a PASA sanctuary yet, but since we had that fire, the PAN AFRICAN SANCTUARY ALLIANCE (PASA) has always been in touch with JACK. It was actually PASA that sent us a vet from Zambia in order to save Touzo’s life.

Managers of all PASA sanctuaries regularly come together to share information

Although JACK isn’t a PASA member yet, Franck is  invited to assist some of the PASA meetings and this really is a good opportunity to JACK to explain what is going on with Great Apes here in Southern DRC.

Franck at PASA workshop

Franck updating JACK and explaining chimp trade through our DRC Province

Last year, Franck went to Rwanda. Last week, he was in Freetown. His experience was wonderful and exceptionnal thanks mainly to the kindness and hospitality of Bala Amarasekaran. Managers of other African Primate Sanctuaries were there as well and Franck found it was very interesting to share information and to learn from each other. Thanks again, Doug Cress, to have allowed JACK in presenting its updates !

JACK meeting Tacugama

At Tacugama, Franck also had the opportunity to meet the team of the Great Primate Handshake. Alasdair Davis and Laurence Hall are creating JACK official English website and this latter will be finished soon! Thanks again, Al and Laurence!

Alasdair working with Franck on JACK official website

During my absence, donations arrived end of March. Thanks a lot to Oliver T (25$), Beth A (50$) and an anonymous person (100$) for their one-time donations. We also received a monthly participation of 30$ of another person whose ID hasn’t been mentionned. Thank you again for your support!

Roxane 

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