J.A.C.K.

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., 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

3 responses so far