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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Marion is fully introduced into Mama Lucy’s group. She is the baby toy of the group and everyone wants her to ride on their backs. It is a wonderful sight to see how well she has been accepted by her new family and finally see her enjoying the extended freedom of their forested enclosure.

Marion and Kate
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The lengthy introduction process for Boyze is making steady progress. He has also been introduced to most of Philip’s group and is now allowed to be in the forested enclosure. The final hurdle will be meeting the two larger males, Ole and Perform. We’re keeping them apart until Boyze is comfortable and made enough allies in the group.

The flu epidemic is keeping Dr. Rosa extremely busy. Josephine responded well to the treatment and she is back in her group. Unluckily, the flu has spread to the other groups and the cacophony of the different coughs makes camp sound like a concert of modern music - not our favourite background.

Gorilla is the next to be badly affected and he has been feeling miserable, congested and weak. Some chimpanzees can be very stubborn when it comes to take medicines, and he is one of them. Finally we have had to medicate him using the blowpipe. Is it interesting to note that Gorilla, different to the other chimps, is not afraid of the dart itself. (Of course, he doesn’t like us to point and dart him but after, he likes to play with the dart and needle. Any other chimp will either destroy it, or be scared of touching it.) This makes recovery of the dart a lengthy process, as he likes keeping it with him. He was originally kept long time ago by an Austrian doctor, so maybe he became used to medical equipment. But who knows!

We have heard about the dreadful events happening  in  East Congo and we want to send our moral support to everyone affected.

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