Behind The Scenes At Tacugama Chimp Sanctuary.
Category: Charlie Girl, Chimpanzee, Introduction, Tacugama | Date: Dec 10 2007 | By: admin
As another busy day comes to an end at Tacugama, our head care staff, Mosses, radios through that one of our chimpanzees, Charlie Girl, has a swollen arm and is not using it! Mosses has been with us here at Tacugama almost since we started in 1995 (even staying with the chimps through the worst of Sierra Leone’s civil war) and has amassed amazing knowledge about the Sanctuary’s residents.
We now have almost 90 chimpanzees here that have been rescued from illegal captivity or who have been orphaned by bush meat hunters. Mosses knows when something can’t wait and needs immediate attention.
We never have a normal day here! I curse my stars and rush to the scene. These chimps never stop amazing you. Charlie Girl was moving around with the swollen arm carried by her index finger held between her teeth!
Yes…she has figured out the perfect way to support her arm just like a sling would do. Eager not to miss out on the evening’s food she was busy receiving oranges with the other hand whilst carefully protecting her damaged arm.
Dr. Rosa, the resident vet, decides to isolate Charlie Girl and on examination suspects a fracture to her arm. Rosa and Willie (another key member of the team here who’s busy building his veterinary knowledge with Rosa’s support) start planning Charlie Girl’s treatment and I get on the phone with doctors at the hospital to arrange an X-ray the next morning.
We’re very lucky to have built a strong relationship with a hospital just outside of Freetown so that we can get extra medical support for the chimpanzees when our own small clinic isn’t enough.
As Charlie Girl has freedom to roam in a seven acre reserve we’ve no idea how the damage happened to her arm – we try to enable the chimpanzees to live in as natural surroundings as possible and when you see the amazing confidence the chimps have in the trees it’s not surprising that accidents happen!
At dawn the next morning, Dr. Rosa darts Charlie Girl and we make the 30 minute drive to the hospital. The x-ray confirms the fracture! Some doctors and staff from the trauma section volunteer to assist to position the broken bone and cast it with plaster of paris.
Then it was time for a photo shoot with the doctors taking turns to take photos with Charlie G, one of their more unusual patients for the day.
Yet another interesting day at Tacugama! For now we have to see how we get Charlie Girl to cope with the cast and allow time for recovery.
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Tacugama Website
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About Bala
Bala Amarasekaran abandoned his original career as an accountant to establish Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in 1995. Together with the Government of Sierra Leone, he is working to secure the welfare and future of chimpanzees in Sierra Leone.
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100% of your donation, minus a small bank fee, will go to your intended purpose.
Donations made here are safe.
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Donations Received
- Nov 17th Christine C. USD20.00
- Nov 16th Wanda H. USD27.50
- Nov 15th Lucia C. USD100.00
- Nov 11th Yang H. USD20.00
- Nov 11th Tania M. USD66.00
- Nov 10th Kathy S. USD22.00
- Nov 9th Jill W. USD86.90
- Nov 4th Yvonne M. USD55.00
- Nov 1st Amy M. USD10.00
- Nov 1st Yang H. USD20.00
- Oct 24th Raúl C. USD79.00
- Oct 18th Simone S. USD86.90
- Oct 17th Christine C. USD20.00
- Oct 16th Brian W. USD86.90
- Oct 15th Helen S. USD86.90
- Oct 13th Lucia C. USD100.00
- Oct 12th Elisabeth C. USD86.90
- Oct 1st Yang H. USD20.00
- Sep 19th Arturo M. USD22.00
- Sep 18th Michael L. USD79.00
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Tacugama Blog
11 Responses to “Behind The Scenes At Tacugama Chimp Sanctuary.”
sheryl, washington dc, on 10 Dec 2007
Wow, more new bloggers at WD! This is a great first post and I’m glad Charlie Girl will recover. Can you tell us more about the sanctuary, please?
s.
Wanda, Atlanta, on 10 Dec 2007
I am glad you are posting here now and I will donate to you soon during the Holidays- I actually donate to you sometimes thru Gorilla Haven in Georgia — thank you — my love for chimps is unbounding! http://www.gorilla-haven.org/
Dipesh, on 10 Dec 2007
Jambo Tacugama! Great to be back in touch and even better that it is through a blog which is almost as good as being there (but not quite)!
Christine C., on 10 Dec 2007
Oh, Charlie Girl is so lovely…cast and all…great new blog!!!
Lisa, California, on 10 Dec 2007
Charlie Girl is darling. I’m glad she will be okay. Yes, please tell us more about your sanctuary. Lisa
paula, on 10 Dec 2007
Greetings and Karibu Tacugama. It’s wonderful to have you with us and what a lovely post! I’m another chimp lover - you are all my heroes. I would love to hear more about how you coped during the crisis.
Lisa, California, on 10 Dec 2007
Me too! I would like to hear how you all survived the civil war over there in Sierra Leon. I just finished a book called “A Long Way Gone” by Ishmeal Beah. He was a child solider in Sierra Leon during that time. He describes the countryside that he wondered at the age of twelve, living in the jungle by himself until age thirteen when he was recruited into the fight. After he was rescued and rehabilitated, he lived with his Uncle outside of Freetown. He describes how he had to flee the war again, as Freetown was overrun, or be sucked back into the fight. It was a very compelling and moving book. Lisa
cathy-california, on 13 Dec 2007
Could you give us an update on precious Charlie Girl and how she is taking to her cast? Who named her?
Samantha (WildlifeDirect), on 17 Dec 2007
Hi Bala. You should also take a look at wildlifedirect.org/jack
Franck and Roxane run a chimp refuge centre in Lubumbashi, eastern DRC. You may be able to exchange some ideas.
ashley, on 29 Dec 2007
it is amazing about charlie girl please tell us more!!
hannah, on 19 Apr 2008
awwwwwww thats sad
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