J.A.C.K.

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps, seized chimpanzees | Date: Feb 25 2009 | By: jack

Dear Friends of J.A.C.K.

Sorry to write so late! Should have done so earlier, but as you can imagine, we are extremely busy!

As already mentioned, the orphan chimpanzees who arrived in Lubumbashi last Saturday from Goma had a safe journey.

These 4 babies seized by the DRC wildlife authorities have been transferred to the J.A.C.K. sanctuary thanks to the PAN AFRICAN SANCTUARY ALLIANCE (PASA)which totally supported transfer and will cover the 3-month-salary of the carer in charge of the babies (Faustin). Thank you for that, Doug!

Also,  other NGo’s took part in the rescue operation:

- We’d like to thank the Africa Conservation Fund (ACF/Virunga) and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) for their help

- Thanks also to Gorilla.cd (thanks again, Sam!) and Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) to have taken care of these orphans during their transit period in Goma. 

- J.A.C.K. also wants to thank the Congolese wildlife authorities (I.C.C.N.) for having saved and seized these infant apes from illegal traders.

Together with the J.A.C.K. refuge, these NGo’s worked as a team ; each member of the team taking part actively in the operation and doing its best to save these young chimpanzees.

Faustin, Thierry and the ‘Kivu Four’ in Goma

Today, the ‘Kivu Four’ are at J.A.C.K. and all three have started adjusting to their new environment this also thanks to Faustin!!

Mavivi

Etaito

The two females are ok and don’t seem to be as traumatised as the young male who has lost almost all his hair. He is crying a lot and needs Faustin to stay close to him.

Udongo

Faustin is doing a real good job and we do appreciate his being here with us at J.A.C.K. We really trust him 100%!

During this first stage, the 3 will stay together in the isolation enclosure. Then, once settled, they’ll go and play during day in the bushy quarantine open air enclosure where Santa and Kimo used to go… 

Etaito

These 3 are lucky to have survived all that pain. And this rescue operation that was set up clearly shows that different NGO’s and some Governmental institutions can make the difference! In order to remember this particular partnership between this different NGO’s and institutions, JACK has decided to change the names of the three babies.

Yes, because the ape infants we have welcomed are still very young, their names can be changed easily just the way we did with Santa who was known as “Mapima”.

So, Udongo is now “PASA”, Etaito is “Dian” (Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International) and Mavivi has become ‘Africa” ( Africa Conservation Fund).

“Pasa” (Udongo)

“Africa” (Mavivi)

But, what about Maïko? the little one who died?

Well, at JACK we have now Maïka. Look at the picture below:

Last Saturday was a long day. Not only did we had that pressure and excitement of welcoming the ‘Kivu Four’, we also had the call of a friend saying she had seen a tiny chimp for sale on the Lubumbashi streets… Franck and I couldn’t believe our ears as no new chimp had been traded in our city for the last 13 months… Imagine how disappointed and how bad we felt when the local authorities handed us the tiniest chimp we have ever had. Santa is extremely big compared to Maïka!!!

So, you see, the ‘Kivu Four’ were 4.  Then, they became 3 but a 4th baby has joined them… Maïko is still with us!

The J.A.C.K. family is getting bigger as illegal trade of protected specieskeeps on going… Someone sent us this a morning pictures of two more babies for sale in Northern Katanga. In two weeks, 7 baby chimpanzees have been seen and some confiscated by authorities…. This means that at least 70 chimpanzees were killed to get them out of the forest… 

 J.A.C.K.  needs you more than ever!!!

Thank you,

Roxane

5 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: Feb 21 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone,

Today has been an extremely long day and, fortunately,  ALL  WENT  WELL!

As we are overloaded with work, I’ve simply set up two small collages with the first pictures of the Kivu Four to give you a better idea of the situation.

Faustin and the 3 babies had a safe journey from Goma to Lubumbashi and…

…upon arrival, everything was ready at the quarantine area of the J.A.C.K. Refuge to welcome them in the utmost conditions…

Sorry for this short message. But I’ll come back to you on Monday with a lot more details AND pictures!!

Roxane

6 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., seized chimpanzees | Date: Feb 17 2009 | By: jack

Hi Friends of JACK,

The “KIVU FOUR” are four chimps that have recently been seized by the Congolese authorities in the Kivu area.

End of January, Mr Doug Cress of PASA, contacted us saying there were 3 baby chimpanzees in Butembo (Kivu) and was wondering  whether JACK would agree taking care of them or not.

Mavivi and Etaito

Without hesitation, Franck answered ‘yes’ under the condition that all the babies had the pertinent seizure documents….

This must be Etaito, sorry, I haven’t met her yet!

So, in a few days time and with the assistance of Samantha (thanks again, Sam!), a rescue operation financed by PASA was set up  by I.C.C.N., ACF/Virunga, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) and J.A.C.K.

Mavivi, for sure!

On Sunday 8th of February, carers Faustin and Thierry left Goma and drove Northwards in a I.C.C.N. car to Butembo where not only 3 babies were waiting them but a 4th one who was actually arriving from Bafwazende, not far from the Maïko National Park. 

Udongo

The Kivu Four arrived in Goma with carers Faustin and Thierry on February 12th. Since then, thanks to Samantha and ACF/Virunga, all the attention of different vets were set on these little ones and especially on baby Maïko who was very weak.

Udongo

But, as most of you know already, exhausted and dehydrated, little Maïko didn’t make it and died on Saturday 14th… A sad, very sad day to all of us who have been working for days in finding ways and means to rescue the Kivu Four.

Maïko

Why do people continue these crimes? Taking apes from the wild, assassinating a whole family for a baby that will - maybe?- die because they can’t take care of it? How many of these little angels have died on the road? in a train? in the back of a car? How long will these horrible things still happen? Will there ever come an end to that slaughter and trade?

We at JACK have decided to accept the Kivu Four because the place they belong to is the DRC. JACK has the obligation to help whatever the challenge is. But I can assure you that taking care of them won’t be an easy task! Of course, this will represent a lot of money and time and love and and and…

But we feel very desperate because 4 chimpanzees at a time means nothing is being done to protect them in Kivu, a Congolese province where most of the wild populations of chimps live in protected areas! It means that the trade is getting worse and that people keep on ignoring the fact that there are laws in the DRC protecting Chimpanzees!

JACK’s duty is to help all these lost babies. Although we are a young NGO, JACK is ready to take this challenge. But JACK can’t do everything alone. We need YOU! JACK needs people like YOU to support and to help stop that awful haemorrhage that is emptying our forests!

Maïko

On our JACK Facebook Cause, we have started a fundraising goal for the Kivu Four. Please, donate for  THEM !

Faustin & Maïko

Know that, although Maïko has gone, JACK will still name the group ” Kivu Four” as he was part of it and because his story isn’t to be forgotten.

Before ending, I absolutely want to thank Samantha, Doug, Pierre, Eddy, William, Jean-Jacques, Thierry and of course Faustin for that great job!

I’ll keep you posted when they arrive next weekend,

Thank you already for what you can do for THEM!

Roxane

6 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: Feb 13 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone,

Let’s share this footage of little Tongo playing with Wimbi. It seems Tongo has found a new friend, a young male whose name means ‘cloud’ in the local Swahili language (=wimbi). This latter protects him all the time, carries him on his back…Only at night Tongo stays with Jane and shares his nest with her because Wimbi likes to have the nest for himself!

Further on the footage, you’ll see the group and then Jane staying close to Seki and Kina, another young female that enjoys Seki’s company. Seki starts walking, Jane clings on him tightly but can’t stay too long with Seki because Tongo climbs onto Seki’s back…

These days are still extremely rainy, but all the chimps are doing all right….

Have a nice weekend,

Roxane

8 responses so far

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

Dear All,

Do you believe in Angels?

Well, I can tell you, they exist !

Last time, on the blog, I asked for help and assistance as one of our chimps, Doguy,  has had eye problems for the last two weeks and… a young American Ph.D. student replied. His name is Tristan. He is just amazing and for the last few days has been moving heaven and earth in order to contact eye specialists.

Tristan also asked the American College of Veterinary Optometrists to send Doguy’s pictures to all US-based veterinary optometrists/ophtalmologists and yesterday, on only one day, he received about 70 emails to which he managed to answer…

This morning, JACK had Tristan’s report on the different diagnosis and  treatment options to help little Doguy and we are now working on these to assist Doguy immediately as the white spot on his right eye has worsened.

Tristan, we at JACK do THANK YOU again  and again for this wonderful assistance. You are helping us a lot and Doguy is most grateful for your kindness and devotion to this matter. You have become Doguy’s Guardian Angel !!!

Also, JACK wants to thank all the specialists and DVM’s who have voluntarily been working with Tristan - YOU  ALL  HAVE  DONE  A  REAL, GOOD  JOB !!!  THANKS  A  LOT!

I’ll keep you posted soon about Doguy’s progress,

Roxane

10 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps, seized chimpanzees | Date: Feb 05 2009 | By: jack

Hello Everyone!

First of all, know that the flu is almost gone and that we now feel less under pressure! It is still raining a lot but we do all what we can to have the chimps dry.

Now, let me introduce you Coco and Mwisho. I have talked about them already in different posts and today these two young and strong males are being presented to Chita (dominant male) and to Bachi (second male of the main group). They have recently left the quarantine area and are in the transition enclosure we use for presentations.

Coco did’t matter at all to meet the two males of the main group. He even looked happy to see other faces than Mwisho’s!

Mwisho at the beginning was terribly scared of Chita. He shouted and curled up his lips as to show his fear.

But after a few sessions, he now seems more confident and submitted to Chita.

Chita and Bachi haven’t expressed much aggressiveness. Bachi just hit the bars separating both groups, but none tried to bite nor fight. We still keep bars in between them and soon these will be taken away so that real introduction can take place. I’ll tell you more about this later on.

As to update on Doguy’s eyes, it is a real catastrophe. Two vets only gave us their opinion and advised to put drops in Doguy’s eyes. But can you imagine how difficult it is to keep a young chimp quiet to put drops in his eyes? Could anyone give us some tips, because we feel lost!

Thank you,

Roxane

9 responses so far