J.A.C.K.

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Nov 05 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

I today will update on one of the little chimps of our Refuge: Kimo.

Not so long ago, baby Kimo was with us at home because of severe bronchiolitis.

Back at the Refuge, Kimo settled in slowly as his friend PASA had gain in strength and had in some way become the “boss” of the baby group during his absence…

Last Sunday, however, we noticed Kimo wasn’t as playful as usual, cried many times to stay in the arms and…something on his nose started swelling.

At first, we thought he had had a blow. We also believed the bump was due to the larvae of the horrible tumbu flies ….

But, no! Once vet Jean-Claude arrived and had sedated little Kimo, we understood one of his upper teeth was completely rotten and broken and had surely caused an infection higher up in the cheek.

When trying to get a sample of the liquid inside the bump, some blood and infection came out.

We decided therefore to wait a few more days to see the evolution of the infection. The vet gave Kimo antibiotic injection and  it is clear the tooth will have to be pulled out soon.

After sedation, Kimo needed extra attention and love and we stayed together for a long time. I’ll let you know more about Kimo and the others,

Thank you!

Roxane

3 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, rescues | Date: Nov 04 2009 | By: jack

Another seizure!

Yes, dear Friends, J.A.C.K. has welcomed 3 new babies in nearly 3 weeks time and this represents a lot!

Joma had been seen in Lubumbashi some days ago by local authorities. His cage was high above the wall of his owner’s house and any person passing by could see the young male on top of his enclosure. 

Joma is a young male of about 3 to 4 years old. According to the Ministry of Environment inspector who seizes all the chimps, this baby is one of the babies J.A.C.K. had heard about in 2006 and that had disappeared from the city shortly after investigation. It very often occurs that some animals are seen but immediately moved once inspectors start investigating and do their paperwork…

Joma’s seizure is also the first one JACK has been allowed to film.

Joma is in good condition although quite thin. He eats everything, seeks contact at any time but isn’t as playfull as Eliawho arived a few days ago.

One thing though we are worrying about is his eyes. Joma had no roof on top of his big cage and since his arrival at the refuge his eyes have been crying a lot. Eye drop training has started in case he needs further treatment.

Thank you for reading us and for helping us - especially Theresa S, Brigitta S, Kevin C and Oliver T who kindly donate every month! Our Refuge now looks after 26 orphan chimpanzees and  our NGO J.A.C.K. can’t work without your donations…

Roxane

One response so far

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

7 responses so far

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

5 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Sep 24 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone!

No longer sick, Santa, Kimo and Maïka were ready to return with their chimp mates of the Refuge. They had been at my house for nearly one month and last Monday we decided to move them back to J.A.C.K.

A friend Carole with Santa and Papa Augustin with Maïka and Kimo

I really thought it would be fast and easy for the 3 little ones to meet their Kivu friends after such a long time… But, these were only my thoughts!

The Kivus had taken over Kimo’s and Santa’s territory and Pasa is now imposing himself as the ‘boss’. Bully and … furry, Pasa has become extremely strong and taller than all the others!!!

Which means that Kimo, Santa and Maïka weren’t welcomed with open arms  and that they had to use their strength (and teeth!) during their first meeting/confrontation with the Kivus…

Maïka, despite her very young age, adjusted immediately. Africa grabbed her at once and in a few minutes Maïka had become member of the (female) group again.

Bully, Pasa wanted to push and tease little Maïka

who stood up, attacked him, and….

 submitted herself to the young male…

Santa had a different story. She was chased away by Africa. Upset, noticing that Maïka had abandoned her, little Santa decided to go by herself.

When Pasa approached to bother her, she attacked him and bit him to show she wasn’t intimidated.

Santa seems fragile but she can really defend herself. When she isn’t happy or if there’s something wrong, let me tell you, she has very sharp canines!!!

But Kimo… Kimo didn’t adjust at all at the beginning. When he arrived, he could feel things were going to happen and he really didn’t feel confident at all.

When the Kivu girls came closer, he tried to intimidate them, which didn’t work as Africa has become bossy too!

Then, when it was Pasa’s turn to approach him, Kimo was scared, sought for Papa Augustin’s protection.

Kimo doesn’t like fights, confrontations. He prefers to run away….

Pasa running behind Kimo

It took them all a few hours of hide and seek to adjust themselves and to settle the young group again. That day, they had a lot of fun climbing up trees and playing with one another.

Pasa has actually very strong attitudes and sometimes is unpredictable. The pictures below will show you Pasa gave Papa Augustin a hard time too! (lol)

Although presentations were tough, it is a good thing Kimo, Santa and Maïka are now back in the little group. The best place for them actually is at the Refuge with the other chimpanzees and not in my garden, nor in my house…

Roxane

4 responses so far

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

Dear All,

Last Monday should have been D-Day for the little ones of my place to be moved back to the Refuge.

Unfortunately, Kimo started slight fever again Sunday evening and temperatures have been between 38° and 38°9 since then.

Kimo playing with water

The climate is changing as days become hotter now without any breeze of fresh air(yesterday 37° in the shadow). It has been so dry  for the last 3 months and Kimo has horrible cracks on his feet which are bleeding. In addition, Kimo pulls out any piece of dry skin which makes it soar and obliges him to walk with closed fists!

Kimo walking with his toes closed because of the pain

Kimo’s fever, according to our vet, is caused by the adjusting of his body to the new climate but also because of the pain of his cracks. Pain can provoke stress and stress can give slight fever.

So, Kimo and his mates are still staying with us: Papa Augustin is taking care of the 3 of them and so does Carole, a friend from France who has come to visit us.

Carole

Santa, Maïka are fine and no new sick chimps have been found in our main group at the Refuge. The ‘Kivu 4′ have recovered too and are again playful and full of energy!

Maïka

The chimps are now enjoying the first warm days of our Summer.

Hope this year won’t be too hot as last year the group and our team really suffered of the heat!

Thank you all for reading and for helping us,

Roxane

5 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Sep 05 2009 | By: jack

The 5th of September will always be a gloomy day for JACK as in 2006 babies JAK and TOUZO died in a sabotage. For the ones who don’t know what happened, you can go on the link below and you’ll understand more about us:

http://jack.wildlifedirect.org/2008/01/13/jack-a-refuge-centre-for-seized-chimpanzee-babies/

JAK (top) died on post because of the fumes and the flames and TOUZO (below) died one week later. Not funny pictures, but this is what really took place!!

We miss you JAK.

We miss you TOUZO.

You’ll always be in our hearts.

Forever!

The J.A.C.K. team

7 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Sep 04 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

Yes, not funny to say, but the last 3 little ones (=Kivu 4) of our baby group are contaminated too! 

PASA has fever, AFRICA has a runny nose and baby DIAN is sneezing most of the time.

Pasa

They belong to the group of the babies I temporarily have at home and I knew these 3 remaining ones would fall sick too!

Africa having some inhalations

But, fortunately, the virus isn’t that strong any more and the babies aren’t too bad!!! 

Dian and Maman Angeline

This is also the case of elder chimps of our  main group: KINA, CHITA and JACKY had to start treatment too but are fine…

Maïka is now enjoying life again after very tough times and is still at my place with Kimo and Santa until everyone at the Refuge has completely recovered.

Maïka feeling a lot better!

Santa (top) and Kimo (below)

I wish all this were finished very soon as we are all tired …

Roxane

4 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre, Rescued Chimps | Date: Aug 27 2009 | By: jack

Hi again,

Today was Maïka’s 3rd day of tough treatment and she started drinking and eating. Her eyes are bright and it seems she pays more attention to things around her. I can now say Maïka has come out of that lethargic state she had been in for the last week and we all feel very happy about it!

I put a sock and a small bandage to protect the catheter

The fever seems to be gone and Maïka is more and more active. This afternoon she even did a few steps to go to the fridge asking for some yogurt (her favorite dish!). Santa and Kimo were surprised to see her walking in the kitchen and came to hug her at once.

Santa (left),  Maïka and Kimo (right)

The catheter was removed from Maïka’s  arm as intravenous injections will be replaced by intramuscular ones. No more drips! No more pain in the veins! You see in Maïka’s  eyes how relieved she feels without that needle in her arm!!!

Santa is Maîka’s best friend. Both are the very little ones who nearly died a few days ago…

One more thing to share with you today: look at the picture below. Kimo was having inhalations for his cough and Santa wanted to switch off the inhalator by pulling out the plug.

I love the way Santa looks at me as if she were saying “pleeeeaaase, can I  have that plug out???”

Roxane

11 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Refuge Centre | Date: Aug 26 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

Last week was extremely tough!

Yes, some of you know already that we at J.A.C.K. have been struggling against a very contagious disease. Chimps simply collapsed of high fever, cough, wheeze and shortness of breath.

The vet diagnosed bronchiolitis which is the inflammation of the bronchioles (the smallest air passages of the lungs). Some of the young ones of the main group were found lying on the floor, conscious but too weak to move…

This was the case of Zamba, Seki and Jane who have been isolated for very particular medication and observation as the virus was at its highest level. They are still in quarantine but doing a lot better now!

Seki (top) and with Mama Maguy (below)

But the bronchiolitis has had devastating  effects on 3 of the little baby ones : Santa, Kimo and Maïka.   We haven’t yet any nursery at the Refuge and because I wanted to take care of the 3 babies myself day and night, these were moved to my house.

 Inhalation for Santa

At first, it was Santa who worried us most. Hot and completely lethargic, she had awful respiratory problems. Santa is allergic to some drugs and she is a fragile chimp. The vet even believes she has asthma. And because of all these weaknesses, this virus had an extremely bad impact on her. We started inhalations and had to put drips  for re-hydration.

Also, because her fever was too high, we were afraid the virus would cause other kinds of infections… So, in addition, Santa had antibiotics.

Today, little Santa has recovered and is playing in the garden with her friend Kimo who has recovered too. He had high fever and a bad cough that prevented him from eating for several days… He has lost too much weight! Medication for them is still going on.

Papa Augustin has been assisting me during day with the babies

Santa (left) and Kimo (right) having just recovered. They lost quite some weight…

Kimo

But, tonight,  the case of Maïka is still worrying us a lot.

Baby Maïka

Remember, Maïka is the youngest baby at J.A.C.K. She had bronchitis last month when I was away and had fevers too. The new virus on her weakened lungs developed into a new disease that has been confirmed through chest X-rays: pneumonia.

So, for the last 2 days, Maïka has had heavy medication: intravenous injections of antibiotics and drips to prevent de-hydration. Although fever has slowly gone down, Maïka is still very weak and we really hope this treatment is the best and that it will save her…

At the Refuge, the epidemic seems to be under control. For the last 3 days, no new cases have been found and we at J.A.C.K. really cross our fingers!! The weather at this period of the year should be warmer (it’s dry season = winter) but the changes in temperatures are surprisingly important (chilly at night/hot during day). End of October rains should start and we all hope flu won’t come back again ! 

I’ll update very soon,

Thank You,

Roxane

7 responses so far