J.A.C.K.

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo, DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: May 26 2008 | By: jack

Hi dear Readers!

Fifteen chimpanzees are now staying at our Refuge Centre and Mwisho is the orphan we worry about most. Arrived last December, he still keeps himself isolated and selects the people he wants to have contacts with.  

For the last weeks, Mwisho had a swollen thing, something like a “bubble” in the bend of his right arm. 

 As we thought it was a cyst, and because we wanted to have a medical check up made, a Congolese vet came to  anaesthetize the young male .

To our surprise, the little “bubble/cyst” turned out to be completely different than expected as we all discovered that it was a piece of metal that had settled in his arm.

Then, when looking closer, we realised the “thing” actually was the fragment of a bullet.

How could this have occured? Maybe, when the poachers attacked the group of chimpanzees  to catch the youngsters, Misho might have been slightly hurt… or, maybe, this is a fragment of the bullet that killed Mwisho’s mum… A lot of theories can be given for this fragment and we will never know the truth. Though, one thing is sure: Mwisho is now rid of this ”thing” and has fully recovered.

We still don’t know when Mwisho will join the main group and remain certain the earlier the best. This traumatised chimp orphan has problems to deal with humans,sure , but the aim at JACK isn’t to domesticate chimpanzees .  So, we are thinking of splitting the main group in two: (1) the group of the very young ones who still need contacts with the surrogate mothers and (2) the group of the elder ones, like Mwisho, who are already very independent  and who no longer need to stay close to humans. But, doing so means JACK takes a new step forward and it won’t be an easy task to separate individuals who have been very close. Also, in order to organise these two groups, we need more space , extra fencing, advice, additional help and support …

We’ll keep you posted!

Roxane, Franck and the Chimps

3 responses so far

Category: Meet our team, Rescued Chimps | Date: May 19 2008 | By: jack

Hi everyone!

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Franck and I have been very busy recently as the Technical Advisor of JACK, Franck Chambon, who is also the animal keeper of the French zoo  that helped us after the sabotage, came to work with us for a while.

Because we needed help and advice, our friend and advisor, Franck , decided to take three weeks off from  the French zoo  where he works, paid his own ticket and flew to DRC.

Franck Chambon

During his stay,  he devoted all his time to the improvements of JACK’s facilities. I’ve told you already the orphans are now becoming stronger and taller and we absolutely must organize bigger and extra accomodation for them. Therefore, Franck drew the plans of the night facilities that we intend to build once we get the funds.

Thanks to Franck’s visit, two important improvements already have been carried out:

(1) an extra outside enclosure has been finalized and this area full of trees will help the chimps for their future release in the wild

Chita and Wanza discovering the new enclosure

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(2) Mwisho, the eldest chimp at JACK, has been given confidence. This chimp has been very aggressive to all of us since his arrival in December 2007. Seized in Kamina by Lubumbashi authorities in October 2007, the chimp couldn’t be transferred from one city to another because  the seizure documents were said not to be legal…

Mwisho, the eldest chimp at JACK

So, imagine, Mwisho who had been set in a small metallic cage, remained stuck in that same cage for about two long months with three big ropes around his neck.

Stuck in a small enclosure for about two months

His owner had kept him with ropes and a wooden bar to control him as the chimp was known as very nervous and too active…

 Mwisho at the place of his owner

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Mwisho arrived at JACK with a severe psychological trauma and nearly bit the ones who came too close to him.

At the beginning, Mwisho stayed all hunched up in a corner refusing people to come close

Thanks to Franck Chambon’s experience and knowledge in Great Apes, Mwisho has made a great step forward and now accepts to be touched and groomed.

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Coco, the latest newcomer, has been his neighbour for the last weeks, but you can still feel Mwisho remains on the defensive.

Coco

Mwisho is doing a lot better today, and still needs more of attention and care. Our friend Franck has done such wonderful job and we are really grateful to him to have come so far, to have spent time, patience and determination into the Refuge Centre.

THANK  YOU, Franck!

Dear Readers, here comes the last chapter of my weekly update: your donations! We couldn’t believe our eyes when we received the Wildlife donation report this afternoon!! Really, we cried for joy because all the money you’ve sent will enable JACK  to buy the machine we need to build the facilities… Here are the donation details:(1) one time donations: Lucia C (100$), Dana J (50$), Ashley H (134$), Christine C (50$), Kevin C (10$), Pirjo L (50$), Susan A (200$), Oliver T (100$),Cathy R (150$), Wanda H (25$+25$), Sheryl B (25$), Anonymous (2000$) and (2) monthly donations : Anonymous (30$).

Again, JACK thanks all of You ! this is just a dream…..

10 responses so far

Category: Rescued Chimps | Date: May 05 2008 | By: admin

Dear All,

Great news for this week:  SEKI, the chimp that was so humanized and had to learn to become a chimp again, has finally been introduced! Recent blood samples  had showed the baby chimp was very healthy and ready to join the group.

Our little friend was really happy to explore the main enclosure and, of course, so excited to run in the open air. He explored nearly every place of his new environment !

Seki exploring his new environment

But, the young chimp was worried. He knew there were other chimps and had seen them. What was going to happen next?

What next?

Seki had met the eldest female, Shasa, before and that’s the reason why Shasa has been  introduced firstly.

Anxious, the newcomer saw Shasa running towards him and, not knowing exactly what to do, opened his arms and welcomed the female with a big hug. This was magic, as both started playing, rolling and running around as if they had known each other for years !!

Shasa on top followed by Seki

Then, it was Chita’s turn to come in. He’s a very pacific leader and actually didn’t pay attention at all to the newcomer. Chita just wanted to pass by with his blanket; nothing else.

Chita with his blanket

Slowly by slowly, the other members of the group were allowed to meet the new chimp. All went fine and one young male, named Kala, always stayed behind Seki as if he were protecting him like a big brother. Kala has become Seki’s best friend.

Kala protecting Seki

Seki grooming Kala

Although no signs of fight nor of aggressivity were shown towards him, Seki remained on the defensive mainly when all the chimps of the group were outside.

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As you can see, SEKI has been successfuly introduced. Because of his past in the expatriate family, Franck and I were worried to know how SEKI would manage all this and we now can say “Well done, SEKI “

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Dear All, you know that I usually end my posts with the “Thank Yous”. Although I haven’t recieved last week’s PAYPAL report related to the donations for  the purchase of that particular machine JACK needs, I already thank most of you as I know many of you have made donations. Once I get the PAYPAL report, a post will be written on donations only .  Sorry about this….

Roxane 

9 responses so far