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

4 responses 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, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps | Date: Oct 14 2009 | By: jack

Dear All,

Masika, the baby that arrived about two weeks ago is doing fine. It took her just a few days to adjust to her new environment and she now knows everyone of the Refuge.

She really likes Papa Augustin’s company.  He is the first one who comes to greet her in the mornings with some food.

Masika’s name has been changed into “Rosie” as to keep in mind the name of Rosmarie Ruf who rescued the baby female after it had been seized by ICCN authorities.

Although Rosie is in very good condition, she can’t join the goup of the Kivu’s. Quarantine is very important and we can’t take the risk of losing chimps.

Rosie can already hear, smell and see others of her own kind and unlike any newcomers will be introduced once isolation period is finished.  So, everyone of the project takes good care of her so that she doesn’t feel that lonely…

I’ll post more pictures later on,

Roxane

3 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

8 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, Rescued Chimps | Date: Aug 17 2009 | By: jack

Hi Everyone, 

Yes, I haven’t been writing much these days and so sorry about this.

Franck and I have travelled in France, Belgium and Sweden in order to present our NGO and to attend several lectures and meetings.

I am already preparing different blogs about what happened this last month and because it takes quite a lot of time to go through all the pictures I will first  update on some chimps you know of our group.

Remember, end of June, a strong male called Mwisho had been introduced together with Coco. In about one month time, both have settled in very well especially Mwisho who is now slowly taking  over the dominance of the group.

Introduction of Mwisho last June

Chita had been the oldest and biggest male we have started with after the fire. Every new comer had to be approved by Chita and Chita was running the group as a ‘’very cool good chap”. He was extremely pacific and maybe too pacific as to run the group with power and strength!

Chita

Since Mwisho’s arrival, a lot of things have changed. The attitude of the whole group is completely different from before as now the ‘boss’ (=Mwisho) is feared by respect. Wherever Mwisho goes, the others open him the path and follow him! Amazing!

Mwisho (right)

He’s the one who is eating first and once finished, he checks whether Tongo has had something to eat.

Tongo is staying close to Mwisho

As mentioned previously, Mwisho has also become Tongo’s main protector. Being still the youngest baby of the group, feeding time for Tongo was “struggle” time as some older members of the group used to steal his food from him.

Baby Tongo

Today, no one dares doing this again.

Mwisho stands close to Tongo and collects food for the young baby.

At night, the big male takes the baby on his back and brings the little one in his nest. If Tongo decides to leave the nest and to have a walk, Mwisho starts crying and takes him back in his arms…

But Mwisho isn’t the only one who wants to cuddle Tongo. Shasa, Wimbi, Kina, Kala, Jane, Seki, …

Shasa carrying Tongo

Tongo doesn’t have to walk a lot – there’s always someone wishing to carry him on his/her back…. I think he is very spoiled and loved.

Tongo in Wimbi’s arms

The following pictures are lovely! I like the way Tongo and Kala (right)  are demanding for a big hug….

I’ll come back soon and sorry again for this delay in posting,

Roxane

10 responses so far

Category: Chimpanzee, Congo - DRC, J.A.C.K., Rescued Chimps, donors | Date: Jul 10 2009 | By: jack

Hi Friends of JACK,

Several months ago I talked about a baby chimp called Doguy having eye issues. People of France and of the US decided to do something and helped in the best way they could:

1/In the United States, Doguy’s Guardian Angel, Tristan, managed to find a very kind Veterinarian, Dr Sullivan who is said “to be an involved animal advocate and care giver”. Dr Sullivan sent the drugs for Doguy to Tristan who actually came  at JACK end of June to give us the medecines.  

Tristan meeting Doguy

While being with us in Lubumbashi, Doguy’s Guardian Angel  had a better idea of Doguy’s disease and treatment and, of course, also met the other chimpanzees of JACK. Little Tongo was Tristan’s favorite baby chimp!

Tristan also recorded our every day life at the Refuge to set up a short reportage about our project.

Thank you Tristan for having flown to the DRC for Doguy’s sake and thanks too to Dr Sullivan who has been advising and following us for the last months!!

2/In France, Justine and another lady called Sylvie (two Friends of JACK having “adopted” Doguy on the http://www.littlejak.fr/ website) sent us medication too as they were very worried about Doguy being not well.

Merci à toi Sylvie ainsi qu’à Justine et à sa famille d’avoir fait le nécessaire pour Doguy. Il est sous traitement déjà et les résultats sont actuellement très positifs! Nous croisons les doigts pour la suite!!!

Meanwhile, as we were waiting for the medicines to arrive, Doguy had been separated from the others to be trained to eye drops.

Doguy having eye drops

Yes, let me tell you, it really isn’t easy at all to put eye drops to chimpanzees and that is why it took me about two months to have Doguy trained  by means of small grapes: he got some raisins once he had let me put a drop into his eye. If he hadn’t let me do so, then sorry, no raisin….

It took me hours of patience to get the final positive results. Today, when drinking his milk, Doguy can be given the eye drops in both eyes without showing any more resistance!

I therefore need to thank Maman Maguy and Maman Angeline who have been assisting me for these long hours of training…

Maman Maguy and Papa Christian giving Doguy’s treatment

Doguy’s eyes have improved thanks to the medication received from the US and from Europe. One eye has cleared up nearly totaly but the right eye still has a slight white stain…

Treatment isn’t finished yet and I’ll keep you posted on the evolution of the treatment. But one thing is sure: JACK wouldn’t have been able to get these results if people hadn’t helped us that way.

Thanks again to all of you!

Encore un grand merci à tous!

Roxane

5 responses so far