Ten days ago we received a call from a businessman living in Freetown saying he had two chimps at his home that he wanted to handover to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. We arranged to go and see him to get a better understanding of the situation and found two female chimps around 6-7 years old being kept in terrible conditions.
Our first sight…
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Although we are not totally convinced about the story we got from their keeper, it appears that he acquired the chimps several years ago while on a hunting trip into the centre of Sierra Leone and had kept them ever since in the central section of this small outbuilding. When they were smaller they were given some occasional freedom to roam the compound but as they grew bigger and less controllable that freedom disappeared. They had clearly not left their confines for a long time from the pile of lorry wheel hubs stacked against the gate. Sadly there was a similar pile filling the floor of their prison. He claimed to be an animal lover but wanted to handover the chimps as they were costing him too much to take care of. It would have been difficult for any neighbours to detect the presence of the chimps as the walls of the compound were tall and a noisy generator seemed to be running constantly.
Bala reasssures the chimps
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The man seemed to have no idea that his was one of the cruelest captivities. We were at least satisfied that he had contacted us to rescue the chimps rather than any other possible outcome. We quickly made plans for the removal of the chimps and so last Saturday we returned with Willie, Pastor and Dr Sorn (Dr Rosa is taking a well earned break) to sedate them and bring them to Tacugama.
Last moments of cruel captivity
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Whilst preparing to remove the chimps we spoke to one of the staff at the compound and he confirmed that they had been there at least three years and that their names were Sunny and Blackman. He seemed to care about them but had no control over their circumstances. Before long they were darted with sedative and we set about the task of releasing the door to their cell. It had clearly been a very long time since the door had moved and it took crowbars and a lot of force before we could enter.
Breaking in
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It was a foul environment with an accumulation of faeces, old food and litter lying between the wheel hubs. It was amazing that Sunny and Blackman were not in a worse condition.
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Pastor, Dr Sorn and Willie prepare to transport the chimps to Tacugama
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Within the hour we were back at Tacugama and Sunny and Blackman were coming round from their sedation to find themselves in a very different environment. They now have the space to relearn how to use their legs for walking and to enjoy stretching and playing comfortably.
Blackman (left) and Sunny recovering from sedation
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Now is the time we have to watch Sunny and Blackman very carefully. Very often chimpanzees who have lived in stressed conditions of captivity demonstrate an amazing resilience to their environment. We have witnessed chimpanzees who have survived terrible ordeals suddenly deteriorate in health once they reach sanctuary, their bodies seem to realise that they no longer need to fight as they are in a safe haven and their immune system appears to relax. (How many of us get sick once we go on vacation after a stressful period at work?) The girls will spend the next three months together in quarantine under careful observation.
Sunny and Blackman’s home for the next three months
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We’ll be looking to rename Blackman in the near future with a more fitting name – watch the blog as we learn a bit more about her to help us with a name.
It continues to be disheartening as we work to educate people in Sierra Leone that chimpanzees do not make suitable pets to see adverts such as the one below from more “developed” nations:
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“Cute baby chimpanzee monkey for sale in nevada, $1000, Publish Date:June 22nd, 2009, Item Price: $1000, Location:nevada
Product Details:Cute baby chimpanzee monkey for sale
We raise only English Chimpanzee and can devote all of our time and knowledge to our chimpanzee, ensuring you the best chimpanzee available from champion bloodlines. All Chimpanzee are checked by a veterinarian before going to their new homes, and are current on all vaccinations and dewormed. all our chimpanzees come with a veterinarian certificate of health, pedigree and a one-year health guarantee. if there is any body out there willing to buy an English Chimpanzee get back to us for more information and pictures.”
At least the law protecting chimpanzees exists in Sierra Leone, while enforcement remains the problem. What a shame that where law enforcement can be more effective, the laws don’t exist……
I will write every congressman I can find -
I hate that in the United States we have such stupid
people — it’s disgusting! Bala thank God for you and your staff —
I will write every congressman I can find -
I hate that in the United States we have such stupid
people — it’s disgusting! Bala thank God for you and your staff —
Oh Bala, this is quite the bittersweet post. Although distessed at the conditions Sunny and Blackman were exposed to, I am thrilled they are with Tacugama now…they are really beautiful
And I cannot believe this ad! Is this Nevada, US? If so, I would lie to pass this along to the US Humane Society and others to bring it to their attention.
Oh Bala, this is quite the bittersweet post. Although distessed at the conditions Sunny and Blackman were exposed to, I am thrilled they are with Tacugama now…they are really beautiful
And I cannot believe this ad! Is this Nevada, US? If so, I would lie to pass this along to the US Humane Society and others to bring it to their attention.
Thank you for sharing this story. I hope there is a happy ending for these two beautiful chimps. Best wishes…
Thank you for sharing this story. I hope there is a happy ending for these two beautiful chimps. Best wishes…
It’s great to know that the chimps (Sunny and Blackman) are safe at Tacugama. Good luck to all their caregivers.
Re the Navada ad: Connie Braun and her fellow breeders/sellers of baby chimps would never sell an animal for $1,000, the going price is $40,000-$60,000 so I suspect another internet scam!
It’s great to know that the chimps (Sunny and Blackman) are safe at Tacugama. Good luck to all their caregivers.
Re the Navada ad: Connie Braun and her fellow breeders/sellers of baby chimps would never sell an animal for $1,000, the going price is $40,000-$60,000 so I suspect another internet scam!
Yes re scams. A couple weeks ago I got to meet people from the major chimp sanctuaries here in the US, one of whom said most ads like this are scams. I have noticed that many of such ads use the same photos, indicating a scam.
I hope Sunny and to-be-renamed Blackman make an easy adjustment to freedom!
Yes re scams. A couple weeks ago I got to meet people from the major chimp sanctuaries here in the US, one of whom said most ads like this are scams. I have noticed that many of such ads use the same photos, indicating a scam.
I hope Sunny and to-be-renamed Blackman make an easy adjustment to freedom!
God Bless you all for saving these endearing beautiful creatures. May they now live out their lives in peace and security in your wonderful sanctuary!
xoxox
nicole – toronto
God Bless you all for saving these endearing beautiful creatures. May they now live out their lives in peace and security in your wonderful sanctuary!
xoxox
nicole – toronto
Those poor babies…..so glad you guys stepped in! Thanks for all you do
Those poor babies…..so glad you guys stepped in! Thanks for all you do
Thank goodness they are out of those horrid conditions. Now they can have a real family with room to climb. Thank you, Bala and staff for all you do for these wonderful animals!
Thank goodness they are out of those horrid conditions. Now they can have a real family with room to climb. Thank you, Bala and staff for all you do for these wonderful animals!
The importation into the U.S. of monkeys and apes for the pet trade has been banned since 1975. However it is lawful in 30 states out of 50 states for individuals to keep monkeys and great apes as pets. (Crazy, yes?) A bill (H.R. 80) was passed on Feb 24,2009 in the House of Representatives to help shut down this trade – but is stuck in committee in the Senate.
The legislation was spurred after the assault and horrific mauling of a woman in Connecticut by her friend’s pet adult, male chimpanzee.
If you are a U.S. citizen – please contact your Senator and ask them to sponsor this important bill.
The importation into the U.S. of monkeys and apes for the pet trade has been banned since 1975. However it is lawful in 30 states out of 50 states for individuals to keep monkeys and great apes as pets. (Crazy, yes?) A bill (H.R. 80) was passed on Feb 24,2009 in the House of Representatives to help shut down this trade – but is stuck in committee in the Senate.
The legislation was spurred after the assault and horrific mauling of a woman in Connecticut by her friend’s pet adult, male chimpanzee.
If you are a U.S. citizen – please contact your Senator and ask them to sponsor this important bill.
I agree! We should write every congressman that can be found to lobby against legal primate ownership in the US.
While it is definatley a problem, some of these types of ads are shams and an attempt to steal money for animals that do not even exist…but if ownership wasn’t so widely legal here, they wouldn’t have the opprotunity to steal from others interested in owning them!
I agree! We should write every congressman that can be found to lobby against legal primate ownership in the US.
While it is definatley a problem, some of these types of ads are shams and an attempt to steal money for animals that do not even exist…but if ownership wasn’t so widely legal here, they wouldn’t have the opprotunity to steal from others interested in owning them!
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