J.A.C.K.

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre | Date: Jan 29 2009 | By: jack

Dear Friends,

I’m afraid, no good news for this time : all the chimps of the Refuge have runny noses, are coughing, sneezing …Horrible! It seems the main enclosure has turned into a big quarantine area as all of them are sick!

All the chimps have runny noses (here Wanza)

Remember last year, visitors had thrown contaminated food into the enclosure and some babies had very high fevers.

Bachi

This time, they haven’t been contaminated by humans: it’s just the cold, rainy and awful weather of January.

Chita sick

When it rains, the chimps are entered in one part of the brand new night facilities. But some of them are very fragile and do contract flu very fast.

Maya & Kina inside the night enclosure waiting for the rain to stop

Kimo and Santa are still OK although they spend their days at the Refuge. Papa Augustin takes good care of them and is not allowed to work with the other chimps of the project.

Kimo, Santa and Papa Augustin

Another thing we are worried about this week is the eye problems of Doguy, a young male whose eyes have been regularly full of tears for the last weeks and who now has a transparent (white) spot on the pupil and the iris of each eye. He’s been isolated for treatment, we do believe he has infectious keratitis. We are still waiting for advice of the different vets we have contacted. I’ll keep you posted,

Doguy

Roxane

9 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K. | Date: Jan 27 2009 | By: jack

Hello Everyone,

 A few days ago we had the visit of Claudine André (Lola Ya Bonobo).

Yes, Claudine stayed with us a few hours early in the morning before flying back to Kinshasa and her stay was full of interest because she gave J.A.C.K. plenty of tips and advice.

Claudine said the chimpanzees of our Centre are in good condition and that they look happy. She thanked us for the hard work and warmly encouraged us to continue taking care of these orphans.

Also, we were not alone during her visit: three groups of about 60 kids came to say hello to the chimps of our Refuge.

Claudine is an amazing lady and I am glad we finally managed to meet! Franck had met her before and although Kinshasa is not so far, I have never had the opportunity to visit Lola and her bonobos….

Thank you Claudine for your kind visit! These moments in your company were precious!

Roxane

2 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, Education, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre | Date: Jan 21 2009 | By: jack

Friends of JACK,

First of all, thanks to all of you who are reading us and supporting us. Remember that the development and the progress of the Refuge is linked to your generosity.

The JACK Refuge for seized chimpanzees is located in the Lubumbashi Zoo in the middle of the city of Lubumbashi. JACK has been there now for nearly 3 years and this location is strategic as it attracts a lot of visitors, pupils and…authorities.

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 

Records have indeed been kept for the last 17 months on the number of visitors coming at the Centre and the results are amazing: an average of 12000 people per month visited the Refuge!

For the year 2008, we had

- 55,56%  Congolese children under 12 (schools mainly!) ,

- 43,41%  Congolese adults and teenagers

- and some expats  (1,03%)

To our knowledge, the JACK Refuge is the only primate centre in Africa were visitors do enter for free. Entrance fees are asked at the main gate of the Zoo and once people enter JACK, they are NOT charged.

Among the 55,56% of kids are schools. Hundreds of pupils can show up at once at the complex and do stay at the main enclosure as for hygiene and security reasons, no one is allowed to enter the back of the Refuge where we have quarantine and night facilities.

Visitor’s area is covered with educative panels, boards and posters.

Most of them have been drawn by us and messages are given in French and in Swahili:

FOR EACH CHIMPANZEE THAT YOU SEE AT THE REFUGE, 10 OTHERS WERE KILLED WHEN PROTECTING HIM/HER FROM POACHERS

BYING A CHIMPANZEE MEANS YOU ARE PART OF THE TRADE AND YOU PARTICIPATED TO THE SLAUGHTER

DON’T BUY ME!  DON’T EAT ME!  DON’T SELL ME!  RESPECT ME!

The visitor’s area will be developed once we manage to obtain funds. JACK needs to build an educative hut where the different threats will be explained, we also need a small building where children can see movies, videos on wildlife…

We are convinced Conservation is possible through Education only. That’s why in 2009 the Education Program of JACK is on the agenda : it is very urgent to start working with schools. Not only because the species is in danger but also because the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Roxane

5 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., galago - bushbaby | Date: Jan 16 2009 | By: jack

Dear Friends,

As already mentioned, JACK not only saves infant chimps but also takes care of bush babies or galagos.

In our Southern part of the DRC, one of the galago species we have is the biggest bush baby of Africa : the greater galago (otolemur crassicaudatus crassicaudatus).

Unlike apes and most of the DRC wildlife, these small nocturnal creatures are being poached for their meat. Pacific and the size of a cat, greater galagos are caught very easily: because they sleep in the trunk of the trees during day, poachers put the tree on fire and wait for the galagos to come out of their shelter.

Galagos are eaten but also sold on the streets in cages made of barks and wire mesh…

…or sold in bags …

Bag (top) and galago inside the bag (below)

… or in other kind of cages/boxes…

Bush babies are mainly bought by expats! These latters believe they can domesticate them and, ignorant, they keep them in their houses and make them become diurnal. One particularity of the galagos is that they wee on their hands and feet to mark territory… so, imagine, expats got rid of them because their “pet” is “smelly” and urinates every where…

galago on the right is weeing on his hands

Not many studies have been carried out on bush babies. Our project is receiving advice from the Nocturnal Primate Research Group coordinated by Professor Simon BEARDER, one of the world’s leading authorities on nocturnal primates.

As to provide the best to these government seized little ones, JACK built new enclosures. There are now 5  bush babies - all males!

Upon arrival, seized bush babies stay in quarantine. To introduce them to their new place takes a couple of days. As the kennel is their first quarantine place, we put the crate into the new enclosure where they remain 1 or 2 days.

galagos kept in the kennel to adjust to their new environment

 Then, we open the door of the kennel and the bush babies are allowed to come out at night and to discover their new world. The kennel is still inside in case the galagos want to keep sleeping in it.

A few days after, kennel is removed and the galagos have their own little house where they sleep during day…

But it is clear JACK doesn’t want to keep these lovely creatures in an enclosure.

A reinsertion program is planned and the individuals will be released with collars as to allow further study about this species in the DRC. This will be another step and of course, I’ll keep you posted.

An adoption program for these confiscated animals will start soon as well.

Roxane

3 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Jan 12 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone,

For you, today, an update on little Kimo and Santa (Mapima). Both as you will see are doing fine and still stay with us at home.

January is the rainiest month of the year and the prevent any flu or other bronchial diseases, both do stay inside their play room most of the time and enjoy running in the garden when the sun is shining.

Yesterday, Kimo decided to run away with the gardener’s brush and didn’t want to give it back.

Santa is doing very well. She gained on weight and eats well. The wound she had at her right hand is completely finished and it seems little Santa/Mapima has settled down. She now doesn’t mind to stay with women any more and is a real sweetheart!!!

Kimo is still under treatment and progress is hardly noticeable. At some times he collapses as if arms and legs don’t get the message fast enough from the brain…

If you look on top Kimo’s phalanges and athis knees, there is no hair…this is mainly because (1) Kimo very often walks on his wrists and not on his phalanges (knuckle-walking) and (2) because he regularly falls on his knees…

Josefine left a few days ago. She worked nearly two months with these two little ones and has gained confidence and experience with chimpanzee babies. Josefine also was terribly sad and now I understand why:

… once you meet Kimo, he steals your heart…

Roxane

9 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo, DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Jan 08 2009 | By: jack

Sheryl, Annie, Christine and Theresa,

As to reply to your questions about Tongo and Jane in the main enclosure, all is fine. Especially for baby Tongo who has been accepted immediately. This picture below summarises how Tongo is doing today.

Tongo and Shasa

Yes, as expected, it is the eldest female, SHASA, who has now little Tongo under her wings.

At the beginning, the other chimpanzees were quarreling as to know who was going to have Tongo on her or his back.

Wanza with Tongo

Today, the young chimp stays mostly with Shasa and also enjoys playing with the others.

What about Jane and Seki?

Seki and Jane both keep an eye on the little one.

Jane (left), Seki (middle) in front of Shasa and Tongo. Kala is on the right

But Jane is still very anxious and has problems to be accepted by the others. I believe she needs time to adjust to this new place full of males…The first days in the enclosure were very difficult to her and she hardly ate. Today, Jane never goes too far from Seki who isn’t that over protective any more.

Jane gripping Seki

Seki has lost lots of hairs on his back. I thought it was a disease or maybe the others groomed him too much. But it is actually Jane who is pulling his hair as she grips him all the time…

So, in a few words we can say Tongo is enjoying his new life and that Jane needs more time to settle down. Introductions are very easy and do depend on the personality of each individual.

Guess whose little toes are behind Shasa’s back???

Roxane

7 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo, DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre | Date: Jan 07 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

I decided today to share with you some moments we had this evening at feeding time. The chimpanzees were waiting to go inside their neight enclosure in order to get their last milk of the day. Sometimes they are very quite and patient. But tonight, maybe because I was recording, it was a very very noisy time.

The chimp making that impatient noise you’ll hear is Kala.  He’s the one who usually is impatient and gives the alarm to the others to say “hey guys! milk is ready! “.

Also, nearly at the end of the movie, you’ll see a very little one hesitating to go into the night enclosure: it’s TONGO! And JANE is the one who comes out again to fetch baby TONGO and who will last get inside… and chased again by Chita, the dominant male…

Enjoy watching!

Now, have a look at what happens inside when they are being fed…

Feeding time doesn’t last for hours and when milk is finished, they get some food, prepare their nests and go to sleep…

Kala (top)prepared a nice nest and Tongo (below) prefered the hammock.

GOOD  NIGHT !!!

Roxane

5 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, DRC, donors | Date: Jan 01 2009 | By: jack

This morning, 6 a.m. Kimo and Santa getting their first milk of the year…

Don’t forget that we need YOU to continue the work. Your donations are crucial to the welfare of these little angels. If each one of you could give even 1 Dollar, YOU could do the difference to save our closest relatives !

 THANK  YOU  FOR  THEM !!!

Franck, Roxane & the Chimps

2 responses so far