These coming days are going to be very particular as our Southern Province of Katanga is hosting the “PASA Vet Workshop 2008″.

About 22 delegates have travelled from their place to reach Lubumbashi and for most of them this experience will be their first one in the DR Congo.

Thanks to the kindness of the highest authority of our Congolese Province, Mister Moïse Katumbi Tshapwe, the Governor of Katanga, this event has been possible and we also want to thank Madam Thérèse Lukenge, Provincial Minister of Environment of Katanga , who opened the Workshop early this morning and cheerly welcomed the PASA delegates.

It is the first time PASA organises one of its workshops in the DR Congo and it is a real honour to us to welcome the whole team here in Lubumbashi.

On Wednesday the 19th of November, PASA delegates will have the opportunity to come and to visit JACK. Mr Doug Cress, Executive Director of PASA, and Rosa Garriga, vet at Tucugama, already paid us a visit yesterday mentionning they didn’t expect to see so much.

JACK is still very young and unlike most of our visitors, Mr Cress and vet Rosa were impressed by the work that we have been achieving for the last two years…

Well, dear Friends, let me come back to you later on these days. It’s already late and we still need to have a few things done before tomorrow.

Roxane

Share This

I know, I haven’t been in touch with you for the last few weeks and I do really apologize for this! I told you in the former posts that we were working a lot on the new improvements of our night enclosures and I can say that, today, most of the work is finished. Have a look at the following pictures and compare - you’ll see a big difference!

before

after

Also, the month of October was full of surprises:

1/ During a fair at the Belgian School of Lubumbashi, JACK had the opportunity to sell different things (t-shirts, caps, toys,etc.) in order to collect money for the little ones of its Refuge.

The event was very positiv. Kids in general were extremely excited as they could stay with us, read books and colour pictures of primates…

Also, JACK organised a raffle which the children had been waiting for with a lot of impatience….

2/ Franck and I were invited in Chingola (Zambia).

A party was organised for the 25th Anniversary of Chimfunshi and we both were happy to share these particular moments with Mrs Sheila Siddle and her daughters .

3/ End of October, Mr Pierre Jacquesmot, the new Ambassador of France who has recently arrived in the DRC, and his wife both came to pay a visit at our Refuge Centre.

They were amazed to see how much work has been achieved for the last two years and they really encouraged us to continue the good work!

Early November, my husband flew to France for a fund raising day that was organised at the French Zoo which has been helping us so much, le Parc Zoologique de Saint-Martin-la-Plaine.

Today, Franck is still in Europ and will be coming back soon as next week, the Governor of Katanga together with the Ministry of Environment and JACK, we are going to host the “PASA Veterinary Workshop 2008″ in Lubumbashi from Nov 16th till Nov 22nd. This event needs quite a lot of preparation and takes most of our time in addition to our every day routine at the Refuge…

I’ll  keep you posted  about this soon,

 Roxane

Share This

We’re still very , very busy with the construction of the new enclosures and we hope the works will end soon. J.A.C.K. is trying to get extra funds in order to finish everything as the kind donation we’ve received from the Sweden Chimpanzee Trust isn’t enough. Prices have increased so much in the last few weeks and because the DRC doesn’t produce any steel nor cement, everything has to be imported either from Zambia or from South Africa…

It has rained already a few times, which is good as, remember, I’ve told you this year the heat was unbearable!

Last week, our friend “Francky” (the one who has come from France to build the night facilities of the chimps)  got terribly sick. He actually had his first malaria and was completely down. So, the building programme had to be slowed down for a while.

We also have improved the playground of the main enclosure sothat our little friends can increase their strength, devellop their muscles.

It took us quite some time to fix a few things

but the chimps apparently fully enjoy their new playground.

Especially Shasa who seems the be “flying” from one game to another as her arms  and legs are soooo long !!!

As for Tongo and Jane, they are doing great. Both are finishing their treatments today and new samples will be taken to check everything. I really cross my fingers and will keep you posted !!!

Roxane

Share This

In addition to the heat and to all that work we’ve recently started, we have  to keep an eye on Jane and little Tongo.

Yes, last week, Jane got very bad and screamed of pain. She didn’t eat nor drink any more. She  had lost all her energy.

The way Jane cried I thought at the begining she had appendicitis but after several analysis, the lab detected strongyloides stercoralis in Jane’s stools which is a human parasitic roundworm. Harmless , it usually affects children here in Central Africa and is very hard to get rid of it!

And, because Jane shares the same place as Tongo, both had to start the same  treatment. They both have to be checked regularly.

Today, treatment is still going on and the two babies are doing fine. Jane is now very active,eating well and is sometimes very naughty with Tongo but he has shown her his teeth already and can really defend himself.

Tongo and Jane have  been with us for more than a month and we do hope they’ll get rid of these worms very rapidly.

Roxane

Share This

I don’t know what the weather is like where you live, but I can tell you that Southern DRC is sweating a lot these days because of the heat (49°C/120°F at some places) ! Even old Congolese people testify they’ve never known such terrible weather. And , imagine what the chimps must suffer with their thick fur… awful!

Chita and Shasa sunbathing after a cool bath

Hopefully, some of the babies chimpanzees of JACK have discovered new water games and some even start to bath just like Shasa does. Have a look at the following pictures and you’ll understand more…

Shasa bathing

Chita (middle) playing with water: he hated water !!!

Seki having a lot of fun in his blue basin

Rains will come by the end of October and will actually be of great relief ! And, maybe, it’ll rain before because the heat is sooooooo horrible!

Roxane

Share This

I know, I ‘ve remained silent for the last few weeks. Lots of things are currently taking place  at JACK and the main event is the construction of two new night enclosures for the growing chimps of our Refuge.

As recently mentionned, our friend arrived from France and works started a few weeks ago thanks only to the woderful contribution of the Sweden Chimpanzee  Trust.

Despite the heat (49° C/120° F), “Francky” is working extremely hard together with the welder (Georges) and the bricklayers. Works must be finished before the rainy season begins end of October !!

Francky and Georges

Within a few days, the 13 chimps of JACK’s main group will discover their new quarters and I’m sure it’ll be an immense surprise to them. Even Coco and Mwisho who still are in quarantine will have the opportunity to move and to appreciate new enclosures. I’ll send you the pictures to share these particular moments with all of you !

As to answer to Christine’s question in regard to raising money to pay back Francky’s ticket: yes, we do have an adoption program. But, the collected funds go straight to the orphans only. We can’t use these donations for any other purpose and that’s why we suggested the friends of JACK on Wildlife Direct to help us…

Roxane

Share This

Our complex is located in the Lubumbashi Zoo and is in some way particular because our NGO has used abandonned enclosures of the old zoo to start its Refuge.

JACK was created two years ago with 3 chimpanzee babies. Today, there are 17  orphans and the infrastructure has to be adapted to the growing chimps of the Centre. 

Our friend, Franck, is coming back next week in order to build better night enclosures for the chimps. These constructions will be possible thanks only to the support of a lady I already spoke about, Mrs. Ing-Marie Persson of the Sweden Chimpanzee Trust.

We only have a few weeks to do all the works as everything must be ready before the rains start ie end of October. So, the coming weeks will be extremely busy and it’s a good thing our friend and Animal Advisor of JACK  is coming: my husband and I are completely overloaded !!!

Franck with Chita (left) and Jacky

Franck has decided to come because he knows we need help. His stay with us is very important: his previous experience will enable us improving the Refuge infrastructure and organization.

Franck also left his job and paid the ticket (USD 1900) to fly to Lubumbashi. JACK wished to pay that for, but couldn’t afford paying…. With the two latest chimps coming, we have had  many expenses. And today, I need your support.

Yes, could you help us in paying Franck’s ticket back? This would be great and extremely helpful, really… Thank you !! 

Now, before ending, let me give you some news about Tongo and Jane. 

As you know already, Faustin had to go back to Kivu leaving little Tongo behind with his new sister, JANE.

Faustin was very sad last Thursday. Tongo was his baby and since he left, Faustin has called us many times  to get some updates on the two little ones.

JANE takes good care of her brother but very often teases him and sometimes prevents him from drinking his milk. She is very funny and behaves that way to have our full attention. This is a normal attitude especially for someone who has been locked up for two years alone in an old 4 x 4…

On arrival, two weeks ago, Tongo ate bread and had milk three times a day. Because of the parasites he had, he didn’t eat very much and had no appetite.

Today, he’s asking for more milk (every 4 hours) and eats bananas, apples, carots. This is a good thing !!

Dear friends of JACK, thanks for the donations recently given - just remember that your aid is essential for the continuity of the Refuge.

Roxane

Share This

I told you last time the first meeting between our two latest newcomers was a great and very positiv event.

Today, we can say at J.A.C.K that both little ones are getting on well and that JANE is taking care of Tongo.

Although JANE  lived alone for a very long time in her 4×4 , today, she is able to express all the love and tenderness she has inside.

Tongo, of course, is glad although separation from Faustin wasn’t that easy.

Fortunately, because of Faustin’s longer stay, introduction was made step by step and I can assure you Faustin was the saddest…

He had been with the little one for the last days and, back home, at our place, he told us he missed Tongo soooooo much.

This introduction has been a great success: the chimp who lived in a 4×4

will now stay forever with the little one who lived in a bag…

It seems their lives have taken a new turn. What do you think about this?

Roxane

Share This

Please, have a look at the following pictures…

Yes, yesterday, Tongo was  introduced to our sweet little JANE.

JANE was still in her small quarantine enclosure and Tongo was close to her with Faustin.

JANE had no hesitation at all, opened her arms widely and couldn’t stop from hugging the little one…

We had tears in our eyes: these moments were precious, full of love and tenderness. And, once Tongo went a bit too far from her, JANE started crying.

Tongo seemed to enjoy to be  with his new friend but he very often felt lost especially when he noticed Faustin had taken some distance.

Also, because JANE is going to move in her new quarantine place, Faustin showed Tongo the enclosure where he is soon going to stay with his friend.

It is now just a matter of time - we are sure JANE is going to accept Tongo quickly and that she will take good care of him.

Faustin is staying with us a few more days. Introduction will be finished by then and we do hope all will be fine afterwards…

Every day at JACK is a new experience for little Tongo, and thanks to JANE, he won’t be alone any more…

Roxane

Share This

Good news! Faustin, the veterinary assistant who came with Tongo, is going to stay a bit longer.

Yes! He was due to leave early this morning. But, thanks to SAMANTHA who managed to change the flight, Faustin will be flying back to Kivu on Thursday 28th.

His presence here at J.A.C.K. is too important. Tongo is extremely young and we couldn’t just let him starting this new life so abruptly.

Faustin is excellent and teaches a lot of things to Tongo. Our aim is to put Tongo with Jane sothat they spend their quarantine period together. Introducing chimps to one another - even if they are young - isn’t an easy task. So, Faustin will help us to “smoothen” this experience.

Jane met Tongo already. She had a long stick and gently tried to touch Tongo. The little one didn’t do anything - he just stared at Jane…

We really do appreciate Faustin. It is unusual to meet people overhere who are ready to save wildlife. And what Faustin does is just amazing: would you  know a lot of people who would leave their family and fly somewhere else in order to look after a chimpanzee 24 hours a day?? 

Faustin is an incredible model and many people should be like him.

Aksanti mingi, Faustin! Thank you for your help !

Roxane & Franck

Share This