Elia, the chimp of the parrot cage
Category: Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps, Uncategorized | Date: Oct 22 2009 | By: jack
Hi Everyone,
Yes, not good news, again!
Elia is a young female chimpanzee that arrived at JACK a few hours ago.
She was kept in a small parrot cage. The owner had bought her here in Lubumbashi and was trying to sell her at a higher price.
We had recently heard about a chimp in that area of the city of Lubumbashi and yesterday the Inspectors of Environment assisted by police officers went to seize the young chimp.
Elia was scared but ready to leave the small parrot cage full of dirt.
Getting her in our crate was extremely easy as she didn’t show any resistance …
At J.A.C.K, no problem at all. Elia seemed a bit nervous but was apparently glad to have a bigger cage where she could play, jump, hang onto the bars, etc.
Elia is very thin but very active. We estimate she is about 3 to 4 years old. She eats, drinks and plays all the time and always asks for contact. She is very cute and doesn’t show any signs of aggressiveness.
Maybe, if all the analyses are ok, Elia will have the opportunity to stay with Rosie. Both will thus feel less lonely during their isolation period.
But first we want Elia to adjust and to understand that she’s in good hands now!
Thank you,
Roxane
Romeo the galago
Category: Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., galago - bushbaby, rescues | Date: Oct 16 2009 | By: jack
Friends of JACK,
Romeo arrived two days ago at J.A.C.K. But Romeo isn’t a chimpanzee. Romeo is a galago.
A Congolese farmer had found a very small bushbaby on his field and came to us for help. He had heard there was a project at the Lubumbashi Zoo taking care of seized galagos.
Franck was very surprised to be handed such young animal and knew from the early beginning this case wouldn’t be easy at all. So, at home, we gave the baby his first diluted milk (70% boiled water and 30% milk)and it was obvious the little bushbaby had been separated for too long from his mum and that he hadn’t had food for several hours.
The baby drank easily with a sterile syringe. Because of the severe dehydration of the little one, our vet Jean-Claude cautiously administrated him subcutaneous fluids.
Although exhausted, Romeo seemed full of life, made a lot of baby galago noises once hungry.
Franck had organised a puppet in which he had put a clock to simulate the regular heartbeats of Romeo’s mum and the baby loved the cling to the puppet.
Both Franck and I had hope and to be sure we would work in the perfect way to save Romeo, I managed to be in touch with two wonderful people of the Duke Lemur Centre (North Carolina), Julie and Bobby.
Bobby is a veterinarian and gave us tons of interesting details and we learned a lot! His advice was most welcome: it was the first time we had to deal with such young baby…
But from the beginning, Bobby had also mentioned this rescue would be difficult and that the baby might not make it. Franck put extra attention on the baby and fed Romeo every 2 to 3 hours day and night.
Yesterday, all went well except in the evening. Romeo didn’t want to drink. We were worried. Even at night, he refused his milk and hardly ever made galago noises.
Romeo left us at 4 o’clock this morning and must be with his mummy now who has surely been killed and eaten up. Congolese people like galago meat. That’s the reason why this species is also considered as endangered species in the DRC and this is also the reason why we started this project: to stop the slaughter and to teach people how to preserve and respect their environment!
Thank you Bobby/Julie for all this energy spent in helping us so hard!
Good bye little Romeo… we are so sorry
Roxane
Ikia, the chimp that didn’t make it
Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., seized chimpanzees | Date: Oct 08 2009 | By: jack
Hi Everyone,
In my former post, we had a happy rescue story. But also as mentioned, saving wildlife doesn’t always have happy ends. Today, I’ll talk about Ikia, a baby chimpanzee, who unlike so many others, had lost her family and hope…
End of June 2009- Julius, a Congolese man working in the city of Kalemie (Eastern DRC), saved a baby chimpanzee he had seen stranded in a bag.
The baby female surely was meant to head for Lubumbashi on the Kalemie-Lubumbashi train,
but Julius got really interested in the content of the bag…
That’s how Ikia entered in Julius’life…
Early July 2009 - Not knowing exactly how to look after a young traumatised chimp, Julius managed to get in touch with our Refuge in Lubumbashi. He wanted the best for the little one and needed advice and help.
Franck and I were in Europe, so it was Chantal who first had contacts with Julius. She was running the project and sent me Julius’ email address so that I could correspond and help the young man of Kalemie…
Ikia was in a bad condition. She needed medical assistance and a lot of love and attention. Julius did a wonderful job and was assisted by other friends when he had to travel.
July 16, 2009 - Once all the paperwork had been done, transfer to Lubumbashi took place thanks to people wishing to help the baby.
Chantal welcomed Ikia at the airport with the ICCN authorities and the representatives of the Ministry of Environment.
At the Refuge, our team welcomed a traumatised, weak and extremely stressed baby.
Ikia was lethargic, remained at the bottom of the box.
Carefully, Ikia was set into quarantine for observation and care.
Assisted by the vet and a young man from France volunteering at the Zoo of Lubumbashi (Cyril), Chantal did all she could to help the new baby. But Papa Augustin and the others were extremely worried as it was clear the baby had had enough….
July 17, 2009- Ikia’s last day. Early in the morning, Papa Augustin took Ikia to feed her and to give her love and care…
Although the team knew something was going wrong, everyone wanted to keep on believing Ikia was going to recover soon…. But Ikia had gone already. Papa Augustin held her in his arms when Ikia decided to give up the fight and to let herself die of desperateness.
Everyone cried and felt guilty of not having done more… This was the first time the team went through such sad experience….
Our team and some friends of J.A.C.K. organised a small burial ceremony.
Ikia now lies in piece at the Refuge. This has been a painful event to everyone and it was even more frustrating for Franck and myself who weren’t in the DRC at that time…
Rescuing animals can be very tough and each time a new confiscated baby arrives, it is a challenge to us. Sometimes, we struggle very hard to give the newcomer hope and confidence. And sometimes, it doesn’t work…
Julius did a great job although he had never worked with Great Apes before. He started blogging about Ikia and you can read her story and see more pictures of her on the following link:
Thank you Julius for your help and for all you did!
Thank you Chantal for all that energy spent in giving Ikia the best!
And great thanks to all the people who were involved in this rescue!
Your assistance was precious!
Ikia, I have never met you, but you’ll stay forever in my heart!
Roxane
Masika, a new baby chimp confiscated in the DRC
Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, seized chimpanzees | Date: Oct 05 2009 | By: jack
Dear Friends,
Let me introduce you Masika (picture below) a baby chimpanzee now at J.A.C.K.
Masika arrived a few days ago on the 29th of September. Rosmarie of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Epulu,DRC) actually contacted us on September 13th asking if J.A.C.K. could take the baby chimpanzee she had rescued.
Masika belonged to a soldier and was confiscated by ICCN authorities of Epulu. The baby female was transferred at Rosmarie’s place and she accepted to take care of the little one. But feeling the best place for Masika was to be among others of her own kind and knowing about our NGO, Rosmarie decided to contact J.A.C.K. That’s how Masika came into our lives!
But how to transfer Masika to Lubumbashi? The Okapi Reserve is so far ?
There were several people who made the transfer possible. First we need to mention MAF CONGO which accepted to take baby Masika from Epulu to Goma. If Rosmarie hadn’t had this flying opportunity, she would have travelled by road (Epulu-Beni = minimum 6hours driving!) and spent 1 night in Beni before continuing on the next day to Goma. That’s why the MAF CONGO air company was so important: it made the journey shorter to Goma!
In Goma, Rosmarie had already contacted different people. Serge in charge of FZS logistics did a wonderful job and so did Lucy Faveau and Robert Muir who agreed to help with the procedure. We won’t forget the participation of the ICCN in Goma nor Dr Emmanuel de Merode who was aware of this transfer.
Also, Patricia played an important role too. Manager of a local airline company, ITAB, she accepted to take Masika on board to cover the last stretch between Goma and Lubumbashi. It isn’t the first time Patricia, her husband and her team assist us because the Kivu 4 arrived last February in Lubumbashi thanks to their kindness.
Without the intervention of all these helpful people, transfer of Massika from Epulu to Lubumbashi wouldn’t have taken place and we are all grateful for their participation and kindness. Again, this action shows that different NGO’s and institutions can work as a team! Thank you to all of you and thank you too, Rosmarie, for having saved baby Masika!!
In Lubumbashi, Franck and the inspectors of the Ministry of Environment welcomed baby Masika.
Franck drove her to the Refuge where the JACK team was eagerly waiting for her!
Papa Bukasa (left) and Papa Augustin (right)
Papa Augustin took Masika immediately in his arms and cheerily welcomed her with chimp noises…
Because of her young age and because Masika was too thin and could pass through the bars of our quarantine cages, I took her home where she is now looked after by Carole.
Masika is now the 24th chimp of our J.A.C.K. Refuge and is the 27th to be rescued by us.
Why 27th? We have lost JAK and TOUZO(remember!). But in my next post, I’ll talk about Ikia, a baby female who arrived at J.A.C.K. last July but who didn’t make it…. Unfortunately, rescues haven’t always happy ends,…
I’ll update soon on Masika’s settling in,
Thank you
Roxane
3 years ago, JAK, the 1st chimpanzee ever seized by local authorities in the Katanga Province (DRC)
Category: Background, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps, Uncategorized, seized chimpanzees | Date: Apr 07 2009 | By: jack
The month of April is very particular to Franck and myself : it was on the 6th of April 2006 that we first met JAK, a dying baby chimpanzee for sale on the streets of Lubumbashi…
JAK is the first chimpanzee ever confiscated in the Southern DRC province of Katanga.
When meeting him we didn’t know he was going to be assassinated by saboteurs willing to stop us.
Nor did we expect the J.A.C.K. project would take huge steps forward shortly after the sabotage…
But one thing is sure, JAK has become a symbol for the Conservation and the Protection of his own kind as thanks to him, the lives of other chimpanzees have been and are being saved.
Thank you, JAK!
We miss you so much !
Africa, Pasa, Dian & Maika
Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: Mar 19 2009 | By: jack
The Kivu Four are doing fine. Faustin left last week and the babies know now each member of our team.
Africa is the eldest of the Kivus and she really had no trouble at all in settling in. She has got wonderful hair, eats almost everyhting and is kind with everyone.
Pasa is the only male of the group. He has lost most of his hair which is now growing back. He doesn’t like to eat much but drinks a lot of milk!
He wants people to stay with him constantly, is always seeking human contact and, at the beginning, he didn’t get on well with Dian, the youngest of the Kivus… They very often fought.
Dian is the youngest. She has wonderful hair too and is very independent.
She doesn’t like to stay in the arms or to be hugged too often.
For the last few days, the three of them have had the opportunity to go and stay in the open air enclosure of our quarantine where they can play, climb up trees, hide in high grasses, etc.
top: Africa & Dian below: Pasa
But they aren’t alone as baby Maïka sometimes takes part in these new games and enjoys staying with the Kivus.
Maïka
Because of her very young age, Maïka still is with us at home but regularly goes to the project to be in touch with the others. Her place isn’t in our living room: she’s doing fine now and must learn to stay among others of her own kind…
Pasa
Before I end, I wish to thank Chantal, our best friend and also our volunteer, for some of the nice pictures she shared with us on this blog.
Thanks also to all of you who are reading and supporting us. Don’t forget that your support is crucial to the development and for the evolution of the JACK Project,
Roxane
Maiko has gone but Maika has joined the ‘Kivu Four’
Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, Illegal trade, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Mar 04 2009 | By: jack
Hi Everyone,
Maïka arrived on Saturday 21st of February… the same day as the ‘Kivu Four’.
Remember, I told you Franck and I had just arrived from the airport that day that a lady called us saying she had just seen a chimp for sale on the streets of Lubumbashi…
I can’t tell you how bad Franck and I felt. No new infant ape had been seen for sale in Lubumbashi for the past months and…suddenly, we got that call insisting on the size and the young age of the baby chimpanzee.
The Lubumbashi inspectors of Environment checked the information and managed to seize the female who arrived at the Refuge around 5 p.m. Exhausted, sick and traumatised, we decided to bring her home.
Maïka was very bad. She hardly moved, had high fever, refused any food… Also, the little one had several cuts on her hands and feet and there was an open wound on the palm of her right hand.
The vet came on Monday and made her 3 injections (deworming stuff, antibiotics and vitamins). All went extremely well afterwards and on Tuesday, Maïka did her first steps at home. Because she was so weak, Franck and I were very surprised to see her walking around the place.
Maïka has already been introduced to the ‘Kivu Four’. They played for hours, climbed up trees, ran in the grass… all of them enjoyed these particular moments.
Lunch time: Faustin, the ‘Kivu Four’ and baby Maïka holding a tomato in her left hand
The little female is now safe and we’re sure that if she had stayed with the traders or with other people, Maïka wouldn’t have survived.
I chose to call her ”Maïka” as to keep in mind that baby “Maïko” had to be here too…
Roxane
DRC wildlife authorities and 6 NGO’s together to rescue 4 chimps
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
The first pictures of the ‘Kivu Four’ at J.A.C.K.
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
The Kivu Four
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
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About Franck & Roxane
With the Congolese authorities, we are working to end the illegal trade of chimpanzees in eastern DRC.
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