Hi Friends of  JACK! 

My name is Stacy Best.   I am an American ex-pat living in Lubumbashi.  I have been volunteering at JACK for approximately 3 months.  I am a Registered Nurse but am not currently practicing here in DRC.   My daughters came home from school one day and told me about JACK.  I contacted Roxane to see if more volunteers were needed.

 I assist with the morning bottles Monday through Friday and with the evening bottles Tuesday through Friday.  There are four of us that feed, two nannies, myself, and another American ex-pat, Kori Howard.  

Feeding time early in the morning: it must go very fast as the orphan chimpanzees are not patient

When we first walk into the feeding area at 0730 the chimps are very vocal and anxious for that first bottle of warm milk.  It’s a bit overwhelming to the senses!  All those arms reaching out and each one of them wants to be first. Chimpanzees are not patient.  We initially hand out each of the labeled bottles that contain warm milk and yogurt.  When the chimps are finished drinking their milk, they hold out their empty bottles for a refill.  Some drink two bottles, some drink three.  Some of the chimps, especially Shasa and Jacky, try to steal others’ bottles as well! 

WANZA

Zamba and Wanza drink out of bottles with nipples. 

ZAMBA

The rest of them drink out of plastic baby bottles without nipples.  When they are finished with their milk, they just drop their bottles.  Sometimes there is still milk in the bottles and they like to watch the milk pour out.  I have come out of the morning feed with milk in my hair, on my shoes, and down my back. 

 The morning feeding takes less than 10 minutes.  Once feeding is finished, one of the nannies goes out into the enclosure and Kori and I stand on an observation ledge while the chimps are released into the outdoor enclosure.  We then observe the chimps for injuries.  We can see if one of them is favoring an extremity while playing or walking with a limp.  It is easier for me to identify the chimps while they are outside.  They all have very distinct personalities and behaviors.

Enjoying the first sunbeams of the day

 In the afternoon my daughters, ages 13 and 11, also help with the feedings.   They have specific chimps that they feed.  One feeds Zamba and one feeds Doguy. 

After the evening milk, the chimps are given their fruit, vegetables and bread in the nighttime enclosure.  It is very interesting to observe their behaviors while eating.  For example,   Wimbi likes to eat all the bread.  He takes as much as he can hold and sits in the corner eating it.  Jac, on the other hand, likes to sit in the middle of the food.  The last activity of the afternoon feeding is the passing out of blankets.  Chita and Seki start whining if the blankets are a little late being handed out. 

Chita whines too much if his blankets aren’t ready

My family and I are very proud to be associated with the work that JACK is doing.  Not only are we volunteers, but we have adopted Zamba as well.  Roxane and Franck work tirelessly to help the chimps and every bit of help they receive is appreciated.

Stacy

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Hi everyone!

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Franck and I have been very busy recently as the Technical Advisor of JACK, Franck Chambon, who is also the animal keeper of the French zoo  that helped us after the sabotage, came to work with us for a while.

Because we needed help and advice, our friend and advisor, Franck , decided to take three weeks off from  the French zoo  where he works, paid his own ticket and flew to DRC.

Franck Chambon

During his stay,  he devoted all his time to the improvements of JACK’s facilities. I’ve told you already the orphans are now becoming stronger and taller and we absolutely must organize bigger and extra accomodation for them. Therefore, Franck drew the plans of the night facilities that we intend to build once we get the funds.

Thanks to Franck’s visit, two important improvements already have been carried out:

(1) an extra outside enclosure has been finalized and this area full of trees will help the chimps for their future release in the wild

Chita and Wanza discovering the new enclosure

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(2) Mwisho, the eldest chimp at JACK, has been given confidence. This chimp has been very aggressive to all of us since his arrival in December 2007. Seized in Kamina by Lubumbashi authorities in October 2007, the chimp couldn’t be transferred from one city to another because  the seizure documents were said not to be legal…

Mwisho, the eldest chimp at JACK

So, imagine, Mwisho who had been set in a small metallic cage, remained stuck in that same cage for about two long months with three big ropes around his neck.

Stuck in a small enclosure for about two months

His owner had kept him with ropes and a wooden bar to control him as the chimp was known as very nervous and too active…

 Mwisho at the place of his owner

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Mwisho arrived at JACK with a severe psychological trauma and nearly bit the ones who came too close to him.

At the beginning, Mwisho stayed all hunched up in a corner refusing people to come close

Thanks to Franck Chambon’s experience and knowledge in Great Apes, Mwisho has made a great step forward and now accepts to be touched and groomed.

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Coco, the latest newcomer, has been his neighbour for the last weeks, but you can still feel Mwisho remains on the defensive.

Coco

Mwisho is doing a lot better today, and still needs more of attention and care. Our friend Franck has done such wonderful job and we are really grateful to him to have come so far, to have spent time, patience and determination into the Refuge Centre.

THANK  YOU, Franck!

Dear Readers, here comes the last chapter of my weekly update: your donations! We couldn’t believe our eyes when we received the Wildlife donation report this afternoon!! Really, we cried for joy because all the money you’ve sent will enable JACK  to buy the machine we need to build the facilities… Here are the donation details:(1) one time donations: Lucia C (100$), Dana J (50$), Ashley H (134$), Christine C (50$), Kevin C (10$), Pirjo L (50$), Susan A (200$), Oliver T (100$),Cathy R (150$), Wanda H (25$+25$), Sheryl B (25$), Anonymous (2000$) and (2) monthly donations : Anonymous (30$).

Again, JACK thanks all of You ! this is just a dream…..

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Hi Everyone,

If I maintain the chronology of J.A.C.K. story, the next theme to speak about that comes into my mind is ANGELINE.

Angeline is the first surrogate mother we had just after the fire. Before the tragedy, two young men had been in charge of the babies during day but decided to stop working when JAK and TOUZO died.

Angeline with Bachi (left) and Shasa (right)

Angeline  playing with the chimpanzee babies
 

Angeline is a young mother (two kids). Having studied Biology at Lubumbashi University, Angeline has always had interest in Nature and Wildlife. From the day she had been introduced to CHITA, BACHI and SHASA, her feelings have grown SO strong towards the chimp orphans that she has ever since  been calling them “my children”.

Most of the very little ones like to hang on her back

Franck and I got really impressed by her. Angeline is the kind of person with a very good heart and has always been ready to do anything for the chimpanzee babies. Climbing trees, rolling with them in the grass, singing lullabies are attitudes very natural and full of sense to her.

Angeline bathing ZAMBA with little DOGUY on her back

Also, because she knows them all very well, she can immediately see when there’s something wrong . I remember, one day, she told me Chita (the dominant male) wasn’t in good condition. After having checked the young chimp thouroughly, and having found no particular sign of illness, I decided to wait before calling the vet.
 

The next day, Chita had fever, his right hand was terribly swollen and he couldn’t use it anymore. It appeared to be full of infection due to a worm located inside the skin. This is very common here: a particular fly, the tumbu fly (Cordylobia anthropophaga), lays its eggs on your clothes and if you don’t iron properly, eggs enter in your skin and generate little whitish larvaes eating your flesh. Of course, it’s awfully soar and a human can immediately feel something’s wrong. But, a chimp can’t speak and if not seen on time, this disease can take extreme proportions. The scientific name is Furunculosis myasis caused by the Cayor worm.

Chita’s hand was soar and terribly swollen

Chita walked with his left hand lifted

Chita’s hand was full of infection

Our little orphans get blankets at night, especially during dry season (= our winter). Chita loves to wrap himself up in sheets, can’t sleep without his blanket and very often steals the others’. A blanket problably hadn’t been ironed properly causing Chita so much pain and, since then, blankets are bleached, boiled and ironed on both sides every day.

Chita loves blankets

Chita at the very beginning. He now has become the alpha male of the group
 

Angeline is also in charge of the kitchen. She’s the one I trained to cut the food and to prepare the meals for the babies. She knows exactly the preferences of each baby and organises every meal with a lot of care and attention.

Preparing food for the little ones
 

Today, Angeline has been working with us for about 1 1/2 year. The chimps of the refuge just love her and her surname is most appropriate as Angeline is really an “angel” for them. Thank you so much, Angeline, for your love and your devotion!

All the chimps do love Angeline
 

JACK thanks Kevin for his monthly donation (10$) received end of February. And thanks to all readers, whatever their language, whatever their nationality.

Roxane, Franck and the Chimps

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