You will have probably read about Sarah in a recent blog – she was recently the first chimp in Sierra Leone that we have ever said no to accepting because we are at maximum capacity. She has been well cared for by Darren, an Australian working at the iron ore mine where Sarah was brought by the son of a hunter hoping to sell her. From the limited information Darren was able to gain, it appears that Sarah’s mother was trapped and killed.
Frankie helps Darren fill out Sarah’s history
Darren has been doing a great job as Mr Mum to Sarah but contacted us again when work called to say he was needed back in Australia for some months. It is very hard to say no and we finally accepted that Sarah should come to Tacugama – she arrived with us on Good Friday last week. She is a very young chimp, somewhere around eight months old and very similar in age to Basma who was born here at Tacugama last July.
Darren with Sarah on arrival
Sarah, Darren and Posseh
Darren passes Sarah over to Mama Posseh
Happily she’s in good condition thanks to Darren’s care and Mama Posseh is yet again doing a great job of settling Sarah into her new routine in quarantine.
Posseh prepares Sarah for her first meal at Tacugama
Whilst we need to reach and change the minds of hunters who are still killing chimps, we also need to educate those who create the expectation that money can be made from the exotic pet trade. Darren has told us that in his time at the mine he has been constantly approached by and rejected people trying to sell him wild creatures including owls, monkeys and crocodiles. He also could not say no to Sarah though he refused to buy her.
We really are full to the limit – we have over forty young chimps permanently using two enclosures that were designed as initial introduction areas and not for constant heavy use. They need and deserve to be in the same kind of semi-wild enclosure that our older chimps enjoy so that they can continue to learn the skills they need for long term success. We really appreciate your support and patience as we get our Paypal donation options up and running and thank all of you that are contacting us to help and spreading the word also through Facebook and Twitter – please keep up the fantastic work.
Posseh with Sarah
Sarah meets Mr Bala
Sarah watches as Darren leaves…..
….and settles in to her hammock for a sleep!
i remember you writing about this little chimp. I am so glad Tacugama was able to squeeze her in, and Mama Posseh is truly a “chimps angel”.
Thank you for saving part of our earth..
She is so tiny! What a precious little girl. I am so thankful to Darren for saving her. I will continue to spread the word of need for funds for new enclosures for the babies. Thank you for giving her a home although I know it’s hard going right now. We will stay with you all the way!
This story touched me so much that I MUST make a donation for little Sarah. What a cutie!!
Great to see another Australian coming to the rescue. When I was in Sierra Leone with IMATT in 2002-2003, we rescued Lucy by Helicopter and brought her to tacugama from Bumbuna Dam. She was such a beautiful soul. I hope she is still well. Do you guys have any photos of her?
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