Tacugama

Category: Charlie Girl, Chimpanzee, Tacugama | Date: Jan 07 2008 | By: admin

We have started 2008 by receiving our youngest resident, Gaura. He is a very tiny chimp, no more than 2.5 kg in weight and less than a year old. He comes from the Gaura Chiefdom in Eastern Sierra Leone. He was found in a trap in the Gola Forest (which has very recently been declared Sierra Leone’s second National Park) and a week later handed to the education officers of the Gola Forest Program; they immediately brought him to the sanctuary. Gaura looks frail and scared. He is running a cold but even being held by unfamiliar hairless individuals, he seems to be slowly adapting to his new surroundings. Thankfully he has a ravenous appetite gobbling up oranges and bananas. It’s just as well that Tico, Mary and Jettie have settled into their new family group as Mamma Posseh now has a new big demand on her time from Gaura. Posseh is being helped by one of our volunteers, Laia, and both are making sure he receives the best care we can give him.

Gaura with the Gola Forest Education Officer
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At the same time, Gabie, a 15 year old female, has been finally tricked into being retained in one of the tunnels between the dens and enclosures. She is mother to Gara - at the age of 3.5 years she still travels on Gabie’s back and breast feeds occasionally. Gabie, like all other females of reproductive age at the sanctuary, is being treated with contraceptive implants. With regular new rescued arrivals placing demands on the sanctuary’s limited resources we need to limit the reproduction of our rescued occupants. The implants require changing every three years and this week it was Gabie’s turn. Gabie likes to spend much of her time out in the enclosures so it’s taken some planning to be able to bring her in for treatment.

Gabie under sedation
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You’ll be pleased to hear that Charlie Girl has now completed her recovery and is now very happy to be back with her group and likewise Perform has shaken off his flu.

Tacugama is receiving a small but important facelift. We open the sanctuary to visitors twice a day both to increase awareness and understanding of the plight facing wild chimpanzees and to raise money towards our running costs. For the same reason we’re just building a second guest lodge at the sanctuary where visitors can stay overnight and escape from the noise and pressure of Freetown in the beautiful environment of our surrounding forest. I am moving between the carpenter who’s getting the lodge completed and giving ideas and encouragement to my favorite artist, Santos, who is painting several murals of chimps at camp. He has almost already finished one honoring Pinkie, the albino chimp, who died several years ago.

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Today he is doing a magnificent portrait of Bruno, the legend. I stand there recollecting so many beautiful memories of Bruno… especially the unique relationship we developed between us. One by one, everyone at camp comes around to admire Santo’s artistic skill and I move away trying to hide my tears. Bruno is such a special soul. He was the first chimpanzee that we rescued and is the inspiration behind Tacugama, but sadly one of the four still missing since some of the chimps escaped in 2006. This beautiful portrait at the entrance will give you a sense of his majestic presence. It is my duty to keep his memory alive as long as I am around!