J.A.C.K.

Category: Rescued Chimps | Date: Apr 28 2008 | By: admin

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to JACK’s weekly post: today, I’ll speak about COCO, the latest chimpanzee orphan that arrived at JACK on April 10th.

Just like most of the seized orphan chimps of JACK,  Coco was seen for the first time by authorities here in Lubumbashi. Hardly fed, very sick, the baby had a long rope around his neck and was sucking his finger as if he were seeking relief and confidence. It was in Lubumbashi on the 7th of November 2006; Coco was in the back yard of a General of the Congolese Army.

Inspectors of Environment couldn’t seize him: Coco was illegally detained by a “high ranking” soldier: each time the inspectors approached the house, they were threatened  and intimidated.

A few days later, on the 28th of November, Coco was found in another house: he had been moved, still belonged to the same owner and was for sale: 600 USD. 

Seeing all these terrible pictures of Coco and knowing that there might be enormous risks in meeting the owner, Franck decided to go to this new place: he absolutely wanted to save that baby .  On arrival, Franck found a poor Coco staying outside in the rain, with his long rope and several dogs surrounding him.

No agreement could be reached: if Franck wanted to get Coco, he had to pay… and you know, we can’t do that. To buy a chimp  would mean that JACK keeps  the illegal chimpanzee trade going and would be guilty of the slaughter of a whole chimpanzee family.  Therefore, with plenty of regrets and pain, Franck left Coco to his sad fate.

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The place he  was in was  full of urine and dirt;  Coco still kept his fingers in his mouth and was apparently living hard times .

Coco indeed was being trained to attack any person  approaching the owner’s truck. It sometimes happen to have your petrol stolen here and therefore the little chimp was attached to the truck and ready to bite you as soon as you came too close to the petrol tank.

Coco was easy to recognise: he had a black spot on his right cheek and very often had his fingers in his mouth. Each time you tried to take his hand from his mouth, he became aggressive and nearly bit you !

Later on, in early 2007, when the inspectors went again to the owner’s place, we were told Coco had died. In a former post, I sent you Coco’s picture mentionning he had passed away

November 2007, someone  had seen a baby chimpanzee at a friend’s place: an expatriate who had bought the chimp on the street because the baby was in a horrible condition.

Many times, Franck tried to be in touch with the new owner to see what was going on. But, feeling that the expatriate guy had very few interest in the matter, Franck took the decision to visit the man at his office.  The new owner spoke about  “his” baby called Coco and, immediately,  when looking at the pictures, Franck recognised  the black spot on the right cheek… Coco was still ALIVE !!!

But, unfortunately, things didn’t turn up so easily. For reasons that are still unexplained, the expatriate man had doubts about our action of saving chimpanzee orphans and handed over Coco to a person of the presidential entourage. This person apparently promised  that Coco would be released in a sanctuary in Kinshasa - a sanctuary that of course doesn’t exist !!!

People started calling the Refuge saying there was a chimp in the residence of the President. Unfortunately, despite the intervention of the local authorities, nothing could be done…

Then, on April 6th, for the second time, the DRC President visited JACK.  As a result of this, in a few days time, Coco, who was in the house of the Head of State without the President’s knowing, was brought at the Refuge Centre. This act was very symbolic and JACK thanks Mister Joseph KABILA KABANGE, President of the DRC,  of having given Coco the opportunity to join his species…

To us, these moments were magic especially because it was Coco and also because this baby had been tracked for so long  by authorities…

Coco arriving at JACK

Today, Coco is doing well. He is a gentle little boy recovering from all that trauma he had been through for the last years.

He’s very strong, eats everything and is very independent.

With the latest newcomer, it means the Centre now takes care of 15 young ones. We have to provide extra accomodation and to improve facilities as the babies are getting stronger.  These days have been very very busy.  Things must be fixed as well and this time we need your support: to continue our improvements in order to give the best to the orphans of the Centre, we must buy a particular machine that combines (1) generator AND (2) melding machine. JACK currently can’t afford buying such equipment and can’t continue renting one;  it costs  a fortune !!! Therefore, I do ask you, dear readers, if you could help the Refuge: such machine costs about 2600 USD….

Pro Forma Invoice

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Fixing the night enclosure

 Thanks already beforehand to all of you who can help !

Thanks also for the readers below for their latest donations:

- (1) monthly donations : Birgitta S (10$), “Anonymous” (10$)

- (2) one time donations : Oliver T (25), “Anonymous” (50), Wanda (35$)

One more thing before ending: JACK really appreciated the gesture of the President of DRC and wants to thank Mister Joseph KABILA KABANGE, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for his interest : his act should be an example to all the ones detaining and mistreating Great Apes !

Roxane

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Category: J.A.C.K. | Date: Apr 21 2008 | By: admin

Early April,  when Franck was in Sierra Leone, different authorities came to visit our Refuge Centre.

At first, I  had the opportunity to meet the National DRC Minister of Environment, Mr. José ENDUNDO BONONGE, who was really amazed to see what private people like us are doing for Congolese conservation.

On April 2nd, DRC National Minister of Environment paid a visit at JACK

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I had an interesting meeting with him and the Minister really seemed interested in helping JACK finding the appropriated lands to introduce the orphans of our Refuge. This will be a great step forward: since the early beginning, JACK has been working with Congolese Government but has never had any financial support from it. Today, maybe, DRC will support the next stage of our project which is to get funds in order to release the orphans of our Centre… Lets wait and see !!!

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 Other Congolese authorities came with the DRC National Minister of Environment: (1) Mr. Edmond SHABANI KIANZALE C.E.O. of the Congolese Zoological and Botanical Gardens, (2) Mrs. Thérèse LUKENGE KAPWIBWE MWENZE, Katanga Minister of Environment and (3) Mr. Kongolo BIN MALOBA, Katanga Coordinator of Environment.

From the left to the right: (1) Mr. Kongolo BIN MALOBA, Katanga Coordinator of Environment (2) Roxane (3) DRC national Minister of Environment, Mr. José ENDUNDO (4) Katanga Provincial Minister of Environment, Mrs. Thérèse LUKENGE 

Then, a few days later, much to my surprise, the Governor of the Katanga Province , Mr. Moïse KATUMBI CHAPWE, AND the DRC President, Mr. Joseph KABILA KABANGE, had a non official visit at JACK. I didn’t know they were coming and didn’t expect them at all ! So, imagine my estonishment when I saw an immense crowd approching the Refuge, DRC President leading the march ! At first, I hardly recognised him, but the crowd was shouting “Welcome Joseph! Joseph!”

On April 6th, DRC President came to visit JACK

Actually, it wasn’t the first visit of the DRC President as, last year, in April 2007, Mr. Joseph KABILA had come and met Franck. So, he knew already about the project and noticed the different improvements that had been done for the last months.

From the left to the right: (1) Governor of Katanga Province, Mr. Moïse KATUMBI (2) Roxane and (3) DRC President, Mr. Joseph KABILA

Katanga Governor, Mr. KATUMBI, accompanied the President and it was his first time  at JACK. He seemed interested and I hope he’ll come back again. 

Nothing was prepared to welcome them. I had been taken by surprise. Although their visit was very short, I explained the purpose and aims of JACK and both authorities have been able to appreciate the efforts and the work that have been provided to protect the species…

All these meetings and visits were more than very interesting. The only thing I can say to the authorities is “thank you for your intrest”. Now,  we just hope some good things will result from all this…

Roxane

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Category: J.A.C.K. | Date: Apr 14 2008 | By: admin

So glad to be back!! Had to be off for a while as Franck had left DRC for several meetings and I had to manage work, family and chimps all on my own!

My husband flew to Sierra Leone in order to attend the PASA workshop organised at TACUGAMA CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY.

PASA workshop was hosted by Tacugama

Our Refuge Center isn’t a PASA sanctuary yet, but since we had that fire, the PAN AFRICAN SANCTUARY ALLIANCE (PASA) has always been in touch with JACK. It was actually PASA that sent us a vet from Zambia in order to save Touzo’s life.

Managers of all PASA sanctuaries regularly come together to share information

Although JACK isn’t a PASA member yet, Franck is  invited to assist some of the PASA meetings and this really is a good opportunity to JACK to explain what is going on with Great Apes here in Southern DRC.

Franck at PASA workshop

Franck updating JACK and explaining chimp trade through our DRC Province

Last year, Franck went to Rwanda. Last week, he was in Freetown. His experience was wonderful and exceptionnal thanks mainly to the kindness and hospitality of Bala Amarasekaran. Managers of other African Primate Sanctuaries were there as well and Franck found it was very interesting to share information and to learn from each other. Thanks again, Doug Cress, to have allowed JACK in presenting its updates !

JACK meeting Tacugama

At Tacugama, Franck also had the opportunity to meet the team of the Great Primate Handshake. Alasdair Davis and Laurence Hall are creating JACK official English website and this latter will be finished soon! Thanks again, Al and Laurence!

Alasdair working with Franck on JACK official website

During my absence, donations arrived end of March. Thanks a lot to Oliver T (25$), Beth A (50$) and an anonymous person (100$) for their one-time donations. We also received a monthly participation of 30$ of another person whose ID hasn’t been mentionned. Thank you again for your support!

Roxane 

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Category: Rescued Chimps | Date: Mar 25 2008 | By: admin

Dear all,

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I feel so bad because there were picture problems with the latest post, and to apologize, I’ve posted extra pictures of JAC’s introduction.  It is true, Sheryl, JAC now looks happy and this is a real victory. Who knows were JAC would have been today if a friend hadn’t seen him for sale on that local market?

Just like most of the others, JAC has miraculously survived and it is JACK’s duty to give these orphans a second chance. You see, although life can be very tough and sometimes dangerous here in Congo, well, I dare say I’m privileged and it’s a honor to me to help this species…

Okay, let’s come back to JAC: have a look at the following  pictures!

JAC wasn’t used to that prickly grass, so when running, he lifted his legs and feet up! He had a funny way to run and the others strangely looked at him

Playing of course with his friend, WIMBI.

Searching for WIMBI!

After all that running and playing, JAC wanted to sit and rest for a while…

… but the others simply wanted to continue the game…

From th early beginning, JAC has enjoyed his new environment. Franck and I knew he was ready to face something completely different and, today,  we are still  surprisingly amazed to see how fast JAC has got on well with all the members of the group !

Well done, JAC !

Before ending, J.A.C.K. wishes to thank Birgitta S. (10$) and Theresa S.  (10$) for their  monthly donations.  Your support is important to help J.A.C.K. in providing the best conditions to the chimp orphans.

Hope you enjoyed the extra pics and that they came out all right.

Roxane, Franck & the Chimps

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Category: Rescued Chimps | Date: Mar 24 2008 | By: admin

Hello there!

This month is full of emotions: we had the arrival of SEKI about two weeks ago and, last weekend, we decided to finally introduce JAC into the main group.

Remember, JAC was that poor little one found on a market last September, and, beaten up, terribly sick, he nearly died…

September 2007 - JAC for sale on the market

October 2007- JAC dying

Today, JAC has done a great step forward. For the last months, he’s done a lot of progress sociably and his health has considerably improved. His quarantine period took a bit longer than usual, but we had to be careful: the group wouldn’t have accepted a newcomer still traumatised or mentally weak.

JAC ….. BEFORE

JAC ….. NOW!

So, how did JAC deal with the group?

At first, JAC didn’t want to come into the main enclosure. Only a few chimps were outside that day to facilitate the first approach and all went perfectly well.

JAC hesitated: a new life was offered to him and he only had to do just ONE step forward

Franck and I were particularly anxious about JAC’s attitude, but in a few minutes, JAC already felt home as one of the chimps, WIMBI, which had been his quarantine neighbour for a while, immediately recognised him and invited him to play and to run around the enclosure.

JAC followed by WIMBI: they had met before in the quarantine area

The other chimp babies of course were very curious and inspected  the newcomer from top to toe…

JAC wasn’t used to such playing and running; he got rapidly exhausted. Very often, he wanted to get some shade and  wished to lie down  for a while, but WIMBI and the others didn’t let him rest a second.

JAC exhausted

Later on, the remaining chimps of the group were one by one allowed to meet JAC. As all went fine, it seemed they had known JAC for years: JAC met new friends, played all the time and we were very happy (and extremely proud!)  to see him doing so well.

WIMBI, JAC’s best friend

On his arival in September 2007, lost and sick, JAC had decided not to live anymore. But today, I’m sure he feels more than happy to have been saved as he really appreciates the company of his new mates.

Immediately, WIMBI came to fetch JAC

JAC also now has got a new mum: her name is SHASA; she is the eldest female.  Very independent, SHASA usually looks after herself only. But today, things have changed: SHASA is protecting JAC and takes very good care of him.  When a chimp teases JAC, he runs into SHASA’s arms and she just disuades any other chimp from coming closer. At night, SHASA and JAC share the same nest; we’re very surprised to see SHASA behaving like this….

SHASA, JAC’s new mum

As you can see, the introduction of JAC has been a great success. It took some time, we agree, but we wanted JAC to be completely ready to face other chimps. Today, the group is made of 12 babies and it gets harder and harder to insert a new one; especially if it is a male. Next to be introduced will be SEKI. His quarantine period won’t take long and we’ll keep you posted!

JAC

Roxane, Franck and the Chimps.

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Category: Rescued Chimps | Date: Mar 17 2008 | By: admin

Dear All,

Let’s share that surprising news. A new young chimpanzee orphan has recently been seized by local authorities and brought at the Refuge Centre. SEKI is a young male of about 3 1/2 to 4 years old and is in an amazing condition: his fur is beautiful, his physical condition is great and SEKI doesn’t show any sign of malnutrition nor mistreatment.

Seki playing with his toys

SEKI’s story is a long story. That young chimp has been known and tracked by Ministry of Environment since 2006. By a curious coincidence, a picture of him was given to Franck and handed over  to the authorities. It was in October 2006.

October 2006 -You have seen that picture already in a previous post; SEKI is on the left. He’s being sold on a market in a remote city called Kongolo (The other little one hasn’t been found yet!)

SEKI is easy to recognise. If you have a deep look on his right hand, you’ll notice the malformation of the phalanx of his index finger. Probably caught in a snare, this latter has left its mark on him and has enabled J.A.C.K. to follow SEKI from one owner to another.
 

The phalanx of SEKI’s right index finger is malformed and has probably been caught in a snare.

November 2006, a friend of us called me saying she had seen someone selling two chimpanzee babies on the street. An inspector of Environment was sent to check the information and met the trader: a young man, starving, begging food for himself and for the chimps. These latter were sick, dehydrated and the youngest was raw boned. During day, the owner walked with them on the streets, while, at night, the two little ones were kept in a very small crate full of dirt.

November 2007 - Lubumbashi, the trader holding SEKI (left of the picture) and his little mate that has never been found

The detained chimps were hardly fed, eating peanuts and mangoes only. Both were sick and had diarrhoeas. Look at the right index of SEKI!

At night, the babies were locked in a small and dirty crate

It took a few days before the legal documents of seizure were signed by authorities, and, of course, meanwhile, the trader moved, hid, and remained nowhere to be found. The Ministry of Environment lost all traces of the two little ones and end of 2006 we were sure they had left the country.

April 2007, a young expatriate lady came to visit the Refuge Centre. She really was surprised to find such project here in DRC and also mentioned she had a chimpanzee at home that was hurt. As her husband had become jealous of the young animal and as the chimp didn’t want the husband to come too close to his wife, the baby chimpanzee had been pushed and thrown onto rocks thus breaking his thighbone in two pieces…. On visiting J.A.C.K., the lady realised she had made a mistake in buying the little one and that she had been part of the slaughter of “her baby’s” family. Remember, to get one chimp from the wild, about ten are sacrificed as the elders protect their youngsters.

April 2007 - Lubumbashi, SEKI is staying with an expatriate lady who believes “her baby” is already adult. Her vet also told her he wouldn’t become taller as he is a “pygmy” chimpanzee…. Imagine how people, even vets, aren’t informed !!!

SEKI trying to walk after his operation.

The thighbone was broken in two pieces and SEKI couldn’t bend his leg

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So, the lady invited us to pay her a visit at home in order to check the chimp’s leg. This meeting gave us a lot of details on that poor little one and both Franck and I agreed on the same facts: SEC (this is the name he had from the smuggler and which the lady kept) wasn’t no longer a chimp;  he had become a human!!! Although the young animal was well treated and was in good condition, it  was horrible to us to see that!

SEKI had become the child the expatriate lady had never had: he was free to run round the place and was raised up like a human

Still in April 2007, we managed to convince the lady to contact the authorities to organize seizure onceSEKI’s leg was healed. It took months and months. When we met the vet who had operated the leg and who went to see the chimp regularly, he said the baby was fine, that the leg was ok and that the chimpanzee could have joined J.A.C.K. already. Franck and I then clearly understood the lady didn’t want to bring the chimp orphan at J.A.C.K.

You see, that lady was among the ”high ranking people” of Lubumbashi I spoke about in a previous post. Knowing that no-one would come to bother her, the young expatriate selfishly kept the chimp at her place telling us “her baby” still hadn’t recovered from surgery.

Finally, in February 2008, the lady decided to call Franck. “Her baby” had become too unruly : he used to leave the house to go and disturb the neighbours and she was losing control on him.  As we always insist on procedures to be done in the most legal way, Franck contacted the local authorities to organise the seizure.

Early March 2008, SEKI was seized by Ministry of Environment. It wasn’t an easy task, as the little (strong!) one had to be anaesthetized in a bit to be transported and brought to the quarantine area of the Refuge Centre. These moments were full of emotions.

SEKI was anaesthetized to be brought at J.A.C.K. : he wouldn’t have accepted to enter the quarantine cage

SEKI woke up slowly but it didn’t take long before he realised he was in a cage.

“Before”, in his “former life” (with the expatriate lady), SEKI was free to run around the place. Also, he was treated like a human and raised up like a child. SEKI ate pizza, drank fanta and opened fridge and cupboards once feeling hungry…That young little one also watched tv, read books, and even weed on a pot or in the garden but never on the floor in the house…

Once awaken, SEKI decided not to stay behind the bars. Taught how to work with screwdrivers, nuts and bolts, the young chimp managed to unscrew a corner of his new dwelling and simply joined the team begging for a hug. As it was impossible to get him back, the vet injected a second (light) sedative to SEKI and we finally put him in a stronger quarantine place.

Again SEKI was sedated

and put back in quarantine…

On his arrival, also, his name was changed: SEC has now become SEKI. Franck simply added the suffix “-ki” to make a link with the Swahili word “kilole” meaning finger (remember, his right index is malformed).

Today, the new comer is doing fine and has got accustomed to his new environment. We still stay with him, cuddle him and play. He’s got the toys of “before” as to enable him to make a better transition between the two different worlds. J.A.C.K.’s new challenge is to teach SEKI how to become a chimp again….

Dear All, you see, SEKI’s story is a long story but, unfortunately, he is the best example of human stupidity. People buy baby chimpanzees because they are cute and also because they feel pity in seeing a baby sometimes in a terrible condition. Smugglers know how to take profit of this pity and very often push people to buy  young apes. But, then, the animals become uncontrollable and the owners get rid of them .  

SO, PLEASE, NEVER BUY A BABY APE: THEY WERE BORN TO BE FREE IN THE FORREST AMONG INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME SPECIES !!!

Thanks to all of you for reading and also, thanks a lot to Lucia C. and Theresa S. for their donations

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Category: Meet our team | Date: Mar 11 2008 | By: admin

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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Category: Education, Refuge Centre | Date: Feb 29 2008 | By: admin

Sorry for editing so late; had to leave DRC for three weeks because of medical problems. Now, all is fine, and I can finally send you the latest news.

It was a real pleasure to us to welcome Samantha Newport ( Communications Director of WildlifeDirect) end of last January. She had decided to come to Lubumbashi for 1 1/2 day in order to visit the Refuge Centre and also to train me in blogging. So, Franck and I knew we would spend just a few hours only with her and that the visit would be immensely short!

Samantha appreciated a lot the Centre and loved to see all the young apes running and playing around in the main enclosure. CHITA had become her favorite chimp: he’s the alpha male and is an adorable and very pacific “boss”.

Samantha and Chita

Chita enjoying his milkbottle in Sam’s arms

During her stay, Samantha noticed the different things that have been recently built thanks to your donations in order to improve security. Remember, in a previous post, I told you visitors liked to lean and climb/sit on the wall of the main enclosure to watch the chimps.

Visitors love to climb and to sit on the wall

Visitors

But, today and thanks to your help, it is getting more difficult to do so, as with your donations:

(1)a second electrical fence has been fixed above the first one and very close to the top of the wall to prevent people from sitting. It also represents an extra security as the chimp babies are now growing and might be interested in jumping over the wall…

Fixing a second electrical fence

(2) boards have been drawn, painted and placed along the main enclosure: visitors must understand that it’s forbidden to feed the chimps.

New boards have been drawn

(3) every weekend, when most visitors come, one young Congolese student, called Ghislain, stands at the entrance of the enclosure, welcomes visitors, gives any kind of details on what J.A.C.K. does and checks if people don’t throw things over the wall. He’s our first fence! Of course, there are surrogate mothers inside the enclosure with the babies, but when someone throws something, it goes too fast and it is sometimes too late!

Ghislain (white cap in the middle)giving details to visitors

Ghislain

(4) since last weekend, an extra wired meche fence has been set up not far from the wall sothat people don’t even go too close to the enclosure any more. If you stand on that little hill, you still have a nice look of the chimps in their environment. Now, lets cross our fingers that visitors won’t climb onto the fence….

Placing an extra fence

Extra fence thanks to your donations

Visitors can still have a look at the chimps in their enclosure

Visitors can still observe the chimps

Before ending, I really wish to apologize that I haven’t been able to write you earlier. Also, I do thank all of you for your patience and support. While I was away, we did receive the following donations:

* Free donations: Lucia C (50$), Oliver T (25$) and Pirjo L (50$)

* Monthly donations : Theresa S (30), Brigitta S (10) and Theresa S (10).

Building this extra protection has been done thanks to your donations mainly and this is something we will never forget!Again, Sam, thanks to you for your indulgence (teaching me took a lot of your time!) and for your visit. Franck and I hope you’ll keep a good souvenir of these short moments spent together…

Roxane, Franck and the Chimps

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Category: Background, J.A.C.K. | Date: Feb 09 2008 | By: admin

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Category: J.A.C.K. | Date: Feb 01 2008 | By: admin

Hi Everyone!

Two weeks ago, I wrote you about that terrible fire and about the painful loss of JAK and TOUZO. I now want to tell how we did to improve the condition of the three remaining chimpanzee babies just after the fire.

The first thing we absolutely wanted to organize after the tragedy was to find out a safe place where to put CHITA, BACHI and SHASA. Therefore, Franck and I had a look at the different abandoned enclosures of the Lubumbashi Zoo.

Trying to find the most suitable place

Several aspects had to be taken into account to improve the babies’ security and welfare:

- large enclosure = enough space to play and run;

- high walls = to prevent chimps from running away and to keep visitors distant;

- night facilities = a night enclosure with enough space annexed to the main enclosure;

- extra land to build quarantine area, more open air enclosures, a kitchen, an office, etc.

The day TOUZO died, and with vet Ian’s participation, we found the most appropriate place to settle the Refuge Centre.

The new enclosure

Works could start the day after: all that high grass was cut and burnt and the night enclosure was fixed and painted.

Restoration of night facilities

CHITA, BACHI and SHASA were introduced to their new environment about a week 1/2 later. As it was completely new to them, at the beginning, of course, they were very afraid and it took some time before they felt ready to leave our arms…

Angeline, our first surrogate mother introducing the little ones to their new environment

The first games in the new enclosure

But, we weren’t alone to do all this. Since the fire, two very important and generous people helped us as they believed in us and wanted to support us.

The first person who said:” ok, Franck, I’m going to help you” was a French man called Monsieur Pierre THIVILLON. He actually runs the ESPACE ZOOLOGIQUE of SAINT-MARTIN-LA-PLAINE which is a place in France known for its gorillas (remember, I spoke about this place in my previous post!)

Mr. THIVILLON and Franck

The day after the sabotage, Mr. Pierre THIVILLON collected money to buy plenty of medical stuff and an electrical fence working with solar panels. He sent us all these things accompanied with one of his gorilla keepers: Mr. Franck CHAMBON.

My husband has known Mr. Pierre THIVILLON for years because, when he was a child (Franck comes from France), he used to visit the gorillas of this place very regularly. We can say that Franck’s passion for Great Apes started there thanks to Mr. Pierre, an incredible man!

Mr. Franck CHAMBON, the animal keeper, stayed with us two weeks. He gave us details on how to take care of the three remaining chimpanzee babies psychologically affected by the fire and he also showed us how to organize the new enclosure. We learned a lot during his stay. Since then we have become close friends.

Franck, the animal keeper, building nests

Nests being fixed in the night facility

Restored night enclosure

But, the new paradise for the little ones couldn’t be restored without the amazing aid and donation of the second generous person I told you about a few lines earlier. This man is actually our main local sponsor without whom the Refuge Center wouldn’t have been established. His name is Monsieur Robert LEVI and he is the C.E.O. of one of the biggest bank recently created in Katanga: the TRUST MERCHANT BANK (TMB) .

Mr. Robert LEVI gave us paint, new gear, cement, uniforms for our workers…all the necessary we needed for a good start!

JACK’s first donation

You see, before the fire, it was very difficult to find people eager to join the cause. Most of DRC natives aren’t rich. Here in Katanga, you’ve got plenty of NGO’s working with poor people, beggars, etc. and, when Franck tried to get local sponsors, many of them dryly answered: “Sorry, I already support human orphans, why should I help monkeys???” That’s why, at the early beginnings of JACK, Franck and I had no donations at all and covered all expenses by ourselves….

Therefore, I again want to thank Monsieur Pierre THIVILLON and his team of SAINT-MARTIN-LA-PLAINE as, even today, they still help us and give us many tips (veterinary, logistics, animal behavior, etc). Also, thanks to Monsieur Robert LEVI who is still our main local sponsor and who still believes in what we do. His aid has been vital ever since we started.

This is what happened just after the sabotage. At that time, we had 3 little orphans and the sponsorships of SAINT-MARTIN-LA-PLAINE and the TRUST MERCHANT BANK were vital to the Refuge Centre. But today, JACK takes care of 13 chimps, which means that the chimp population at the Centre has been multiplied by 4 and that we need more donations to give these growing little ones all they need!

The orphans of the Refuge Centre

Before ending this post, I wish to give a particular attention to a very good friend who has been with us before and after the tragedy. Yes, SIMON, I’m going to talk about you. Mr. Simon HICKS of Conservation Works worked for years in Conservation and, since May 2006, Simon has brought a lot to JACK - and to us !- Franck and I are very grateful to him for all he has done so far. Thanks, Simon!

Dear Lucia C, JACK has appreciated your donation ($ 200 ) as well as Cathy R’s ($25) and Kevin C for the $10 monthly donation. All your donations are very important and helpful! “aksanti mingi” (which means ‘thanks a lot’ in Swahili)

Roxane, Franck & the Chimps.

Technorati : chimpanzee, congo, drc, iccn, wildlifedirect

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