First of all thanks very much to Theresa, Lucia and Wanda for your recent generous donations – we really appreciate your support.
It’s been a hectic week here at Tacugama so sorry for a short entry but we wanted to give you a quick update on Gaura. He’s settling well but his health is still cause for concern, with continuing low grade fever in the evenings. Malaria and typhoid are ruled out. We are performing other tests and also we will do an x-ray next week. Otherwise, he still has an excellent appetite being passionate about milk.
Gaura ready for a nap
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This week’s candidate for close contact with Dr Rosa has been Melanie; it was time for her contraceptive device implant. She is a 10 year old chimp with a serious distrust of people. She arrived at Tacugama at the age of four having suffering severe injuries inflicted by a trap. Her left arm and leg were badly injured and unable to be used due to the deep and infected wounds caused by being trapped for a long period before being retrieved by the hunter. When she was brought here she had to be anesthetized many times to treat her wounds. I don’t blame her for not trusting humans at all. Chimps forgive but don’t forget. After several months Melanie slowly recovered from her injuries and was able to use her arm and leg; after 6 years she still suffers from minor disability. She has definitely not forgotten but also I think she hasn’t forgiven humans yet. Fortunately she remains largely healthy these days so spends most of her time away from close human contact and enjoying, with friends of her own kind, the space that we can offer at Tacugama.
Melanie (with Megan behind)
Thank you so much for your extraordinary work there, for your care about those babies and for all you do helping them! Thanks for the report.
Thank you for the update on baby Guara…hopefully his health will begine to improve substatially very soon. Thank you for all the work you do!! p.s., someday can you blog about Pee Wee??
Gaura is so sweet and I hope he recovers fully – and soon. Melanie, though … what a look she’s giving the camera – or the photographer. Thank you for the updates and photos.
s.
What a great “Got Milk?” ad that photo of Guara would make.
What a sweetie Gaura is!
My goodness, the pic of Gaura in the hammock, with milk moustache, yes a great ” got milk” moment! Relieved he is feeling better. As for poor Melanie, I’ve read that when chimps grimace/smile that this is a sign of the stress they feel. Who can blame her? We so appreciate all you have done to rehabilitate her.
Bala,
Thank you very much for update. I hope our beautiful Gaura will be recovered soon.