J.A.C.K.

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: May 28 2009 | By: jack

Yes, Everyone, good news for Tongo: we managed to introduce him back into the main group! 

After Tongo had had his last milk of his quarantine period (with Maman Angeline below), Maman Maguy and Papa Augustin struggled to get him out of his isolation cage.

Tongo doesn’t like to be hugged and is in some ways still quite wild. So, it wasn’t that easy to move him ….

Papa Augustin & Maman Maguy with Tongo

At the beginning, when seeing all the others,Tongo was very scared.

Tongo waiting in the presentation area before the others were allowed to come in

Fortunately, Kala, one of the males and good friends of Tongo, took the little one in his arms and calmed him down.

Then, Jane and Kina, two females, came in to fetch the baby and carried Tongo on their back as to say “OK, it’s enough! Let’s go now!!”

Tongo wasn’t put at once with the whole group.  We had previously decided which friends were to welcome Tongo first and all went fast and well!

At the end, when all the group was gathered, Seki took over Tongo’s protection and no other chimpanzee could even approach the new comer.

We at JACK are all glad to see the little one back into the main group!

Tongo on Seki’s back

Roxane

8 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: May 27 2009 | By: jack

Hello Everyone,

Maïka is the youngest chimp orphan that came at JACK last February and she has now become more confident, stronger and healthier.

Her best mates are Santa, Kimo and of course the ‘Kivu 4′ with whom she spends her days playing in the quarantine open air enclosure of JACK.

Maïka’s favourite games: climbing up trees and swinging in branches…

Kimo loves her very much and is always teasing her.

Always in a good mood, this little chimpanzee is an adorable baby. She is very social and likes to stay with almost everyone. I can very often feel she’s grateful to us for having saved her life…

Roxane

6 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., JACK overseas | Date: May 26 2009 | By: jack

Yes, last week Franck attended the PASA meeting at the Columbus Zoo (Ohio) where he was given time to present the most recent progress of JACK.

Also, while being in the US, Franck has taken the opportunity to visit important zoos such as the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago). He is coming back to Lubumbashi end of this week.

Thanks a lot to the PASA team but also to Rebecca, Christopher, Jill  and all the others for assisting Franck during his first stay in the States.

Roxane

One response so far

Category: J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, donations | Date: May 21 2009 | By: jack

Dear Friends,

Let me introduce you to Justine.

Justine is the youngest supporter JACK has ever had and she has been with JACK for about two years now. She is 9 years old, lives in France and has been interested in Great Apes for many years.

Her parents are animal lovers too, but Justine’s preferences are on chimpanzees - especially the chimps of the JACK Refuge!

That’s the reason why Justine’s family has adopted Doguy : they have always put much attention to the different needs of their young adopted chimpanzee and JACK is very grateful for their help and interest.

Merci Justine pour nous soutenir et pour être si passionnée par ces nobles créatures. Un jour, je suis certaine que tes rêves se réaliseront et que tu pourras venir voir le petit Doguy (qui devient grand!) à JACK!

Merci aussi à tes parents et à ta petite famille qui te soutiennent et t’encouragent à aller au bout de tes rêves…

A bientôt,

Roxane

5 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: May 19 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone,

Tongo is doing fine and has still his antibiotic treatment. Maman Angeline (below) and the rest of the team takes good care of little Tongo and sees that medication is given 3 times a day.

There hasn’t been any traces of infection and it is really amazing how fast this little one has recovered!

By the en of the week, I’ll introduce him back to the group. We believe he was attacked accidently and if we keep him separated too long from the others, he’ll lose his place among the others…

I’ll send you pics of Tongo’s reinsertion into the main group and I hope this coming step will be fine…
Roxane

8 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: May 13 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

This morning, the chimps had a terrible fight during feeding time (milk) in the night enclosure. There was such agressiveness and nearly all the group was involved into the quarrel we actually couldn’t see who was fighting against who…

The keepers shouted and managed with Franck to separate the group. But it was too late… Tongo had been taken into the fight and we do think the biggest males tried to emasculate him. He defended himself, cried and some females came to help him, licked all the blood…

Tongo waiting for the vet to arrive and licking his wounds

The vet arrived. We sedated Tongo as he refused to be hugged. The vet had a closer eye on the different injuries: a small piece of his penis has been bitten off,  the arch of his left eye brow needed a stitch and his right foot showed traces of deep bites.

Chimps are known to like conflicts and war. But this is the first time we attend such violence and, from my side, it’s really heartbreaking, as poor little Tongo didn’t deserve this!

I’ll keep you posted about Tongo’s progress. Tongo has now waken up and had something to eat at lunch time. He’s doing all right and has started antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment already…

Tongo waking up

Roxane

17 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: May 12 2009 | By: jack

Hey Christine C. and the other Friends of JACK!

A few days ago I took pictures mainly for you, Christine C.,  and I think this time you’ll agree Pasa has got more fur than when he arrived last February…

Look at his back, his arms and tummy… I hope you (and of course the other Friends of JACK!) will enjoy the pics!!???

Roxane

4 responses so far

Category: Background, Congo - DRC, Education, J.A.C.K. | Date: May 11 2009 | By: jack

Hello Friends of JACK,

I hope you enjoyed your weekend and that most of the ladies had a memorable Mothers’ Day!

Today, I want to talk about two authors and friends, Alain HUART and Chantal TOMBU, who have had their brand new book recently published. This piece of art is written in French but you actually don’t need to speak this language to appreciate the beauty and the colours of the pictures. The book is called “Congo, pays magnifique” (Congo, wonderful country). More pictures can be seen on the following website: http://congo.skynetblogs.be/

Alain mainly works in Kinshasa for the Ministry of Agriculture and is an excellent photographer. He came at JACK on September 12th 2007 and encouraged us a lot to continue the good job. While visiting, he told Franck JACK at that period was ’till at the embryonic stage compared to Lola ya Bonobo’…

Alain and Chantal visiting JACK

Born in the Congo, Chantal is an Art Historian. She used to work at the National Museum of Lubumbashi.  Thanks to her, JACK has had many opportunities to organise lectures at the Museum thus making people and authorities aware about Great Apes and their threats in the DRC.

lecture at the National Museum of Lubumbashi

Together, Alain and Chantal have decided to set up a book showing the beauties of our country, the DR Congo. There are plenty of magnificent pictures and the texts are full of interests. This master piece gives a colourful and positive idea of the DRC, which is very often criticised and forgotten…

Franck and Chantal

Page 138 is dedicated to JACK and if you have a better look at the pictures, you’ll recognise Maman Angeline carrying both Zamba and little Doguy! The chimp on top, of course, you’ll recognise him too: it’s Chita, our “boss” (dominant male)!!!

Chita (top) and Maman Angeline with Zamba & Doguy. On the left, one of the different signs people can read during their visit of the Refuge ” Buying a chimpanzee means you are part of the trade since you have participated to the slaughter of the whole group”

Thank you again, Alain, Chantal and all the other participants of this wonderful book: writing about JACK will help the project and its chimps to be known all around the world!  

Encore un tout grand merci pour EUX! Et encore félicitations pour le très beau travail!

Roxane

3 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: May 06 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone,

Formely called “ETAITO”, Dian is the youngest chimp of the ‘KIVU 4′ and she was the first one to be introduced to the new quarantine quarters when they all arrived end of last February.

Dian is very shy. Though not showing any signs of aggressiveness, she likes to stay with some people only (Papa Augustin, Maman Maguy and Maman Angeline). It took me some time before I could really touch and hug her.

Today, when being in the open enclosure, Dian runs all around and follows mostly Africa in the highest branches. She’d rather stay with Africa as at the beginning Dian really didn’t get on well with Pasa, the young male of the ‘Kivu Four’.

Dian (left) with Africa

Dian has wonderful long and black hair, a very pale face and a funny white beard. Ske loves grapes and plums - things that you seldom find in Lubumbashi!

Roxane

7 responses so far

Category: Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, donors | Date: May 05 2009 | By: jack

Hi good Friends of JACK,

Early last week I talked about ‘Little Jak’.

We actually have just received their latest parcel containing different medication that will help us face flu during next coming cold/dry season.

Getting parcels is always like getting Christmas’ presents

So, thank you again to the team of Little Jak. Chita and his mates are very grateful to you for the help you provide!!!

Vous êtes d’un grand soutien pour ces petits chimpanzés qui deviennent grands et nous vous remercions d’être à l’écoute de leurs besoins… Merci à TOUS, vous qui avez participé à cet envoi!!!

Roxane

2 responses so far