Tacugama

Category: Tacugama | Date: Nov 04 2009 | By: tacugama

Hi, this is Tess here again. Following the earlier blog where we asked you to send us your questions for Mama Posseh who works in quarantine, she has now finally finished answering your questions. She was very happy that so many people around the world are interested and appreciate the work she does!

With the help of Willie, the camp supervisor, Posseh gets down to answering all your questions
.

How did you come to work at Tacugama?
I came to work at Tacugama as a cook by Mr Bala, and then later joined the sanctuary as a full member of staff dealing with the chimpanzees; deployed in the quarantine section as a foster mother.

Did you ever think you would be a foster mother to orphaned chimpanzees?
No, the reason is that I was in the first instance scared of chimpanzees. I thought they would intimidate me if I came close to them.

How do you feel when a chimp bonds with you?
I feel happy, because their behaviour reminds me of kids at home.

Do you feel that humans are so different from other apes, or do we have more in common?
Chimps and humans are not very different; chimps are closer to humans than any other great ape. They are very intelligent and can use tools.

What is the hardest thing about your job?
None! Nothing seems to be hard about my job, I love it.

What is your favourite thing?
I like to stay close to the chimps, making sure their cages are thoroughly clean.

How many hours a day do you spend with the chimps?
Quite a lot, around twelve hours.

Posseh also works in other areas with the sanctuary, here she is helping at the Tacugama Film Night
.

What does a baby chimp eat?
Cereal, milk, bananas, cucumber, oranges and lots of other fruit and vegetables.

What is the most surprising thing you have learned about chimpanzees while working with them?
One thing that surprises me is when a chimp falls sick, it loses its appetite, becomes dull and tends to stay away from the rest of the group.

What stories were you told about chimpanzees as a child?
According stories I was told back at home chimpanzees were human ancestors thousands of years ago.

What were yours and your community’s understanding of these primates and other apes in and around your area when you were younger?
When I was younger I always heard of people saying that monkeys and chimpanzees are very destructive to their crops.

Were they something that you were told about in school or through your family and friends?
I learned about chimpanzees through my family.

Is it your understanding that today people are more aware of what is happening to them and their dwindling numbers and the reasons you are conserving them through Tacugama for example?
Yes, one way is that Tacugama has set up a rehabilitation programme geared towards confiscating orphaned and abandoned chimpanzees from people within Sierra Leone. Tacugama helps to implement the wildlife laws of Sierra Leone.

What does your family and friends think of your work at the sanctuary — do they understand and support this urgent importance of your vital assistance and work helping the baby orphans?
Yes they do, they appreciate by paying regular visits to the sanctuary to see the chimps and my efforts.

Posseh’s grandchildren come to visit the sanctuary
.

What time do you start and end your day normally (if there is a normal!) at the sanctuary?
I start at 6am and finish around 7pm. I check on the chimpanzees throughout the night if they are sick.

I understand there is a level of trust and bonding that you develop and acquire with each baby — has there been an instance where you have gotten attached? Or visa-versa?
They get attached to me when they have problems such as sickness; they always need my presence when they are in trouble. I got attached to a chimp called Mac. When he was in quarantine he was very shy and even when he moved into the group of infants he was still very shy and not very comfortable.

Posseh takes Mac to the forest to play

Can you tell us something that you do to help calm, reassure a scared baby?
First I hug and pamper them, and groom them. I reassure them with words also.

I imagine it is difficult for you and the young chimps, after their quarantine period, when they move onto the next step/stage of their life and have to leave you — if possible, could you tell us who was the easiest (strongest, most courageous) to move on and why, and who took it the hardest (most dependent, scared) to move on and leave you?
Bimbo and Spana were the most easily integrated and most courageous to join the other members of the group, they were very brave and strong. Bidi, and infant female chimp was very scared and stubborn to join the group because she was very close to me.

Spana
.

Bimbo
.

What can you tell us about your work at the sanctuary and how it makes you feel?
My work at the sanctuary is very demanding but very interesting. I always feel very proud to work with the chimps.

Is there a funny story/incident that you can tell us about that made you laugh? (We know how intelligent, curious and mischievous young chimps can be!)
Yes, Gaura is fond of tickling himself, using a small stick in his ear.

Do you communicate with the chimps in their language, like food grunts and pant hoots? If so, is there a greater response?
Yes I have learnt to communicate with them in their language, like “ooh-ooh”!

Do they know their names?
Yes I know all their names.

When you are not working/helping the chimps at the sanctuary, and if you have the time, what do you like to do? Any interests/hobbies?
I like going to church

What is YOUR favourite food/dish to eat?
My favourite food is rice and beans.

What do you think is the most important thing you do or provide, to help them recover from the trauma part of their ordeal?
Giving them care and attention that they never got from their real mothers after being taken from the wild.

Posseh helps to give milk to the juvenile group, where some of the chimps go after quarantine
.

Do you still recognize the chimps as they grow, after they have been released from her care? Do they continue to recognize you or communicate you?
Yes I still recognise all the chimpanzees. After they have left quarantine they usually go to one of two groups, which I sometimes help to feed so I see them regularly. I never forget their faces.

Posseh works at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary with a team of over 14 other staff including care staff. All the staff work incredibly hard to ensure the chimpanzees are looked after with the best possible care. The dedicated team help to make Tacugama what is is today.

Watch this space for personal accounts from Willie and Moses, two members of staff who have shown amazing dedication and hard work over the years at Tacugama!

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