J.A.C.K.

Dear Friends,

End of March was very stressful here because of unrest and panick. Our boarders had been kept indoors most of the time for security and we all did our best to give them the routine they are used to. Chimps are very clever and understand immediately when something goes wrong, so the keepers and myself tried to remain as normal as usual.

However, food was missing! The people used to provide us with fruit and vegetables from outside the city didn’t dare coming to Lubumbashi (shootings, rumors, curfew, panick…). Prices at some places had increased; sometimes long talks were needed to buy just a few things…. a real nightmare when you know that you minimum need 100kgs of food / day!

Some of our Internet friends reacted rapidly and sent us very helpful donations. We felt extremely blessed as this wonderful aid enabled J.A.C.K. in giving the chimps their usual food and in the normal quantities….

Many thanks to Corinna M. (150 $), Diane A. (40 $), Fran B. (40 $), Kelly J. (500 $), Dana V. (40 $), Patti C. (50$), Amy M. (10 $), Alain S. (50 Euros), Véronique T. (20$), Laurence D. (27$)  and Oliver T. (25 Euros).

We also wish to thank our friends and family, but also our sponsors, our donors, the members and the friends of our adoption program who financially participate to J.A.C.K.

Remember, we live on donations only and that each little help represents more than you can imagine! So, in case you wish to be part of our action, you can join us on the  ”how to help” page of our English website www.jackdrc.org

Thank YOU for THEM !

Roxane & Franck

Co-founders of J.A.C.K.

Dear Friends,

Two best friends of J.A.C.K., Sébastien and Mathilde, have created their own charity named Association Chimère which promotes vegetarianism, reports on living conditions of animals and which also helps NGO’s protecting wildlife.

“It’s sad to think that nature speaks and mankind will not listen” (Victor HUGO)

End of last February, the movie “Chimpanzee” came out in France and our friends created a special event named “Amène J.A.C.K. au cinéma” (“Bring J.A.C.K. to the cinema”). They therefore asked a cinema manager in Caluire (not far from Lyon) if she would agree their charity had an information stand at the entrance of the cinema to catch the attention of visitors, to talk about J.A.C.K. in the DRC and to make people aware of the danger of extinction Great Apes are facing today…

Sébastien and Mathilde had organised posters, pictures of our boarders and they also had cooked vegetarian treats. Some members of their charity assisted them during this particular 2-day-event totally dedicated to the Cause of Great Apes.

Their efforts has resulted in donations (an average of 140 Euros was reached!!!) and some more money is being donated as Association Chimère has mentioned on its websites that people could still send their movie ticket to Chimère’s postal address with a donation that will be send to J.A.C.K. Sanctuary in the DRC.

We are very grateful to Sébastien, Mathilde, the Chimère members and team  for their wonderful action and for their wish to help the 38 orphans we are taking care of here in Lubumbashi. We are proud of what they do and do encourage them to continue the great work!

 Thank you to all the people who have donated and many thanks also to the person in charge of  the Caluire Cinema: without her interest this event wouldn’t have taken place! Merci beaucoup Madame pour avoir permis à Mathilde et à Sébastien de mener à bien cet évènement très particulier qui nous aide énormément!

Roxane

Dear Friends,

Chela House is a member of J.A.C.K. and has been supporting the Sanctuary. for the last two years. Several months ago, she decided she would do something to help the chimps we have rescued and she therefore  started creating handmade necklaces by using trellis yarns and glass beads.

colourful handmade necklaces

Chela doesn’t make the necklaces alone: Gail and Aliya are two of her frieds helping her making the necklaces and who also participate to fairs to collect funds for the chimps living at J.A.C.K. !

Chela House, Aliya and Gail selling necklaces on a craft fair

These beautiful necklaces cost 15$ each and can be puchased from Chela House. Know that 100% of the purchase goes straight to our Sanctuary in the DRC!  If you are interested, you can contact Chela House on her facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/chela.house

selling necklaces and talking about J.A.C.K.

The chimps at J.A.C.K. are extremely blessed to have friends like Chela House, Aliya and Gail as the sanctuary of J.A.C.K. lives on donations only. Without good friends like them, J.A.C.K. wouldn’t be able to make the difference in such hard country like the DRC!

Thank YOU again and again, Chela House, Aliya and Gail for caring and for loving THEM! Your patience and generosity not only bring these creatures a better life but they also give them  the hope that more and more people will be interested in their future!

Merci beaucoup!

Roxane

The Worldwide Veterinary Service is a UK registered charity that supports animal charities and non-profit organisations all over the world.  It sends veterinary and non-veterinary volunteers, donates veterinary goods, supplies and equipment and also gives free veterinary advice and consultation.

J.A.C.K. has know Tess and the W.V.S team since 2009 when our little sanctuary was donated veterinary supplies for the first time.

one of the first WVS donations (2010)

Today, W.V.S. has again supported J.A.C.K. through a wonderful donation of veterinary supplies which has already helped young Kina when she had that severe eye issue. The offered drugs arrived exactly when we needed some special medication difficult to find here in Lubumbashi which made us feel extremely blessed!

donation end 2012

But receiving parcels in the DRC isn’t easy at all. So we. therefore want to thank  Stéphanie, a good friend of J.A.C.K. who lives in Johannesburg (RSA) and who helps us getting the parcels to Lubumbashi for free. Without Stephany it would be very tough to get donations sent to J.A.C.K.! Thank YOU again for your kindness and precious support, Stéphanie! J.A.C.K. is happy it can rely on a special friend like YOU!

Kina’s eyes sick

Also, many thanks again and again to Tess and W.V.S.! Your donations are always of great use and we are happy we can bring a difference to these creatures thanks to your interest and wish to participate!

 J.A.C.K.

J.A.C.K. Sanctuary was created in 2006 and is located Southern DRC not far from the Zambian border. For the last 6 years it has rescued 42 chimpanzees, 1 bonobo and 6 bushbabies.

Our aim is to protect an animal species in danger of extinction because  it is hunted for its meat (bushmeat) and because the youngsters represent money for greedy people wishing to smuggle and trade them. Today, chimps are still sold to ignorant expats, but also to  circusses, labs, and to luxury hotels attracting more guests by means of small game parks built around their place…

chimp trade

J.A.C.K.  works with the DRC  Ministry of the Environment to put an end to this illegal trade and the sanctuary also does its best to enforce existing laws regarding wildife and fauna.

J.A.C.K. hopes one day to put the rescued chimp and galago orphans back into the wild but can’t do everything alone. That’s the reason why your donations are extremely important as they help us face daily issues of getting enough food, milk, drugs, etc.

Remember, every little bits help!

We need you to give them all the best!

We need you to join us in our fight!

Merci!

Roxane & Franck

Remember, dear Friends, Kina had severe eye issues several weeks ago and had to be isolated to provide the needed care and attention.

Kina before

Today, as already mentioned, Kina enjoys life again in her group and her eyes are doing extremely well. The use of a particular ointment (MAXITROL eye ointment – ALCON)  donated to JACK by the World Veterinary Service ( W.V.S. ) has given excellent results.

Kina today

Many thanks to our team who followed Kina closely, to our vet Jean Claude, and many thanks too to Tessa and the W.V.S. team who sent us this magic ointment as well as so many other drugs!

J.A.C.K.

So far, nearly $ 1,500.00 has been donated thanks to the kind support of Su & Greg, Chantal J. and her friend Laila, Amy M., Nathalie W., Patti C., Fran B., Diane A., Andrea J., Jackie M. and Christine C. ! But unfortunately, more funds are needed… so, please, should you be able to donate; every little bits help!

THANK YOU again Su, Greg, Chantal & all for your Love!

THANK YOU, dear Santa!

J.A.C.K.

Dear Friends,

Kelly lives in Australia . She is a vet student and wishes to work one day with primates.

Earlier this year, she decided she would do something to help J.A.C.K. and therefore started collecting vitamins. In a few weeks time, Kelly’s package was ready: she had gathered  1 year of kid vitamins for about 40 individuals! She added extra medical stuff inside the big box  (skin ointments, bandages, emergency blankets, blankets, etc)  and one of her friends, Deborah, offered additional  kiddies’ vitamins.

The parcel was shipped via a wellknown company used to provide international express mail services but it took nearly a month before the parcel reached Lubumbashi as it got lost in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa before arriving in Lubumbashi where it was stuck days and days at the Customs…

When J.A.C.K. finally got hold of the box, it was like Christmas before Christmas! There were plenty of good things inside for the chimps AND a huge surprise for us: a wonderful frame of SANTA, the little one who died several months ago of a birth difect…. Kelly knew we have been deeply affected by the sudden passing of SANTA and therefore framed her picture with a short notice ” SANTA , leader of hug trains”.

Since the parcel has arrived, the chimps are getting their daily vitamins and, believe me, once they see the small yellow boxes, their eyes are getting bright and their noises of contentment make you understand that they are very, very, very happy !!

Again many thanks to Kelly and also to her friend Deborah for their Love and wish to give our boarders the best! Thanks to people like you we can bring a difference in country where things aren’t that easy!

MERCI for THEM !

Roxane/J.A.C.K.

Dear All,

This is an update on the donations you sent to J.A.C.K. end of last October in order to help us buying new boots for our team to start the rainy season !

Our sanctuary was donated more than expected and wish to share with you the different expenses that have been made thanks to your good heart!

When deducing banking fees, J.A.C.K. has been donated a total amount of 902.12 $ ( = 457.85 Euros + 313.31 USD) ! Again, many thanks to Elianne E., Sébastien & Mathilde, Laurence D., Hakim B., Véronique T., Florence V., Carole V., Florence C., Marie-Odile L., Hilde O., Marc H., Lucette P., Alain S., Kelly J., Catherine M., Wanda H., Christine C. and Marika for their precious help!

Because J.A.C.K. received more than expected, we therefore decided to import from Zambia some treats that the chimps love:  oranges and apples !!!

Also, our team wasn’t only offered boots: they also received brand new outfits as well as new strong gloves…

Thanks to your donations, there has been some bright sunshine at J.A.C.K. during these gloomy days of power and water issues we now have had for several weeks! Know that the team and the chimps are extremely grateful for your wonderful help!

Today, 101,38 USD are left and will be used for medication as rainy season sadly goes along with flu season…. I’ll update on this balance soon…Here are the invoices of the different purchases (boots, outfits and gloves) . Fruits were bought on a market, so, sorry, we haven’t been able to have invoices for this!

1/ incoice boots

2/ invoice outfits 

3/ invoice gloves

Again, J.A.C.K. team and boarders wish to thank you all for your interest and your wish to participate! Merci à tous pour votre soutien et votre envie de participer!

J.A.C.K.

Power installations of our DRC city date from the 1960′s and because local authorities have decided to fix and renew most of  the power stations at once we have had huge power and water issues for the last weeks!

Therefore we have been struggling with power and water issues for the last days…

Water has been stored to face daily  food and milkbottle preparations of the chimps and we are extremely blessed as Mother Nature, on this side of the planet, has helped us a lot: rain season has recently started thus watering the crops of our green garden….

Also, J.A.C.K. Sanctuary wishes to thank its closest friends for their wish to help in these difficult times:

 - Suzy & Babu are two wonderful ladies of Lubumbashi but also the only ones who have suggested to share water with the chimps! MERCI Suzy & Babu!

- Su of RSA has been trying for days to get donations sent to help J.A.C.K. in getting a generator through the kindness of Elie’s and many of your supporters .. oh! la,laaa ..Su! You are AMAZING !

- Also, some wonderful Friends on the Net have decided they would give a hand for a generator or a well and someone even asked Kenya Airways to bring us some water…  many thanks to Amy M., Nathalie W., Fran B., Patti C., Suzanna D., Andrea J., Jackie M.,  Diane A., Chritine C. and Corinna M. for their energy and help!

 YOU are all Angels and the chimps living at J.A.C.K. really feel blessed to have you as Good Friends ! Thank YOU ALL soooo much for your wish to participate in such difficult country as the DRC!

THANK You for THEM!

Roxane & Franck

Co-founders of J.A.C.K.