Tacugama

Category: Chimpanzee, Introduction, Tacugama | Date: Oct 30 2008 | By: tacugama

Sorry for the recent lack of a post, intermittent internet connections and spreading flu have conspired against us staying in touch with you over the past week and more.

On our last post we mentioned a new arrival at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Her name is Bai Nyaa, which means woman of the kigdom Bai. She is a one year old girl with a healthy appetite. She was rescued in a village called Poturu, near Tiwai Island, in the south of Sierra Leone, again by representatives of the Gola Forest Project. Villagers were once more reluctant to give much history, but she is tame and used to people. So far her first health check has shown only a mild anaemia, let’s hope nothing more emerges during her 3 month quarantine.

Even though we are struggling for funding and space, we never turn down a new chimp, because we know there is nowhere else in this country where they can go. It costs us about $1000 per year for every chimp and currently we care for 91 chimps. We thank all of you for your continuing support!

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Tags: Chimpanzee, sanctuary, Sierra Leone, Tacugama, wildlife

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Category: Chimpanzee, Tacugama | Date: Oct 15 2008 | By: tacugama

Chimpanzees are tough but when it comes to respiratory infections, they suffer badly. At Tacugama we dread when flu strikes. Unfortunately, the flu season is here and all 27 chimps in Mamma Lucy’s group are coughing, sneezing and some have fever.

Marion and Josephine have been the worst affected. Marion spent one day refusing food or drinks, but eventually the medication worked and she is now recovering well, but Josephine has refused anything for three days.

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Tags: Chimpanzee, sanctuary, Sierra Leone, Tacugama, wildlife

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Category: Chimpanzee, Introduction, Tacugama | Date: Oct 14 2008 | By: tacugama

Urgent has now also finished her quarantine period and we have the difficult challenge of integrating her into an existing family group.  Introducing adult chimpanzees is very difficult and often unsuccessful. In the case of Urgent and her history, it may well be impossible.  Our goal is to integrate her to Gorilla and Baba’s group. Gorilla will then have someone closer to his own age to share the attention of the lively younger chimps who, in turn, may accept her better than other adults.

While under anesthesia, Urgent was transferred to her new den.  She’s sharing a set of dens with Gorilla and Solo.  She is in the middle with Solo on one side and Gorilla and Jettie’s on the other. (Jettie’s one of the youngest members of the group who has become almost inseparable from Gorilla and chooses to stay with him at night rather than with the rest of the young ones.)  She will stay in the den until we are confident that she is comfortable with the rest of the group.  She can interact through the grills with her den mates and during the day the rest of Baba’s group can interact with her through the tunnel entrance to the enclosure.

Urgent meets Gorilla & Jettie with Solo looking on
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Tags: Chimpanzee, sanctuary, Sierra Leone, Tacugama, wildlife

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Category: Gaura, Tacugama | Date: Oct 06 2008 | By: tacugama

Last week saw the end of Tombo’s quarantine period and so finally we’ve been able to give Gaura a playmate. After a long wait, he was very excited to meet Tombo. With only a small hesitation on Tombo’s part, it took no time for them to bond together, so much so that Tombo wouldn’t let Gaura go at all. It was an amazing introduction that we’ve captured on a few video clips so that you can share the moment…..!
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Tags: , Chimpanzee, sanctuary, Sierra Leone, Tacugama, wildlife

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