One more chimp was rescued two days ago bringing the total number of residents at Tacugama to 100! A tiny girl, she is hardly 1 year old and arrived dehydrated, weak, with deep scars under her neck and hips caused by ropes cutting through the poor girl’s flesh…. I have seen those “helpless”, “all lost” eyes so many times before!
An employee of the Sierra Rutile mines in the south east of Sierra Leone felt sorry for the baby and had bought her from a hunter. The little girl is called “Tompey”. Fortunately we were called straight away by the man so that she could be brought to Tacugama and taken care of.
Tompey arrives in the late evening at Tacugama
Removing the heavy rope from her hip
The rope wounds on her neck
Everyone at camp lined up to see the new arrival, Tacugama’s 100th resident. For me, it is just another very sad day. Every time a chimp gets rescued, people think that we are being effective with our education, sensitisation and law enforcement drive. But the bottom line is “the killing continues!”. We are still unable to stop this.
Another chimp at Tacugama to be cared for many years! This time around it is even harder for me. For the first time in 15 years of Tacugama I have had to make up my mind to say NO to the next desperate chimp that needs to be rescued.
We just cannot continue like this without securing the resources to build the infrastructure and much needed running costs to cater for all these chimps. We have already begun to compromise the welfare of those who are already under our care. We must take a step back!
We are just about to conclude our nationwide survey and census of wild chimpanzees and from the data we have collected, new strategies will need to be planned to protect the remaining wild population. We are also analysing the data to explore the possibility for reintroducing some of Tacugama’s chimps back into the wild.
But for the time being, and as a matter of urgency, we need everyone’s help to find the resources ($100,000) to build new enclosures and holding facilities to ease the overcrowding at the sanctuary. Without this we cannot continue to accept more chimps and undertake our law enforcement role.
I guess I have finally reached a point where my head must rule over my heart! This is indeed a very sad day for me.
Mamma Posseh gives Tompey her first wash
Tompey enjoys her milk!
5 Comments
aww bala she is precious. But i do fully understand you making your decisions that you have made. It takes lots of dollars to keep things going and unfortunately people tend to forget about wildlife except when it comes to pictures of cute baby chimps.
I hope you can get what you need together soon and i keep sending my very small contribution, hoping to one day come and volunteer.
Poor little girl. So tiny. I’m sure she will be doing better in no time. I feel sad that Tacugama will have to say no to any more chimps until some space is built but I understand that you must take care of the ones that are there now. Is there a chance some of them can be released in protected area? What can we do to help raise funds so you can continue with your rescues?
So sorry to hear you so discouraged but you know your situation better than anyone — I too continue to make my small donations but wish daily I cold give the big $’s to make this all happen for you!
thank god Mamma Posseh is there.With her help and care little Tompey will grow up safely.
So sorry to hear that you guys are overwhelmed……how can more funds be raised? I hope it get better!