Tacugama

When I wrote the last blog, I thought it will take a while before we spot another chimp that need to be rescued. Sadly last weekend we got a call from an Australian working in the iron ore mines in Tonkolili that he had rescued a baby chimp from a hunter and would like to handover the chimp to Tacugama. I felt very strange trying to make him understand the current situation at Tacugama and pleading with him to look after the chimp for a while till we manage to create some space at Tacugama.

In short, I said NO for the first time in 15 years (for the time being)!

how to say NO to those eyes?

But on a happy note, some kind people and organisations are coming to our aid.
IPPL-UK has donated £4800 towards building cages for the quarantine and introduction areas.

Lyndal Davies, our long standing friend of Tacugama and the producer of our first documentary (“Forest of Hope”) has donated $10000 to kick-off our appeal for the $100000 towards building new enclosures and holding facilities.

And of course, we thank the support of our blog readers…every bit helps!

Once we get to 50% of our target we can begin to order the fence materials from South Africa/Kenya.
I believe that together we can make a difference to these chimps.

Bala

Tompey with Mama Posseh on her way to hospital

Following her initial checks on arrival at Tacugama we suspected all was not well with Tompey, our recently arrived 100th resident chimp.  Dr Rosa decided an x-ray would help to assess her condition. The x-ray plate revealed a bullet lodged in her chest!  On close inspection, we found the entry scar of the bullet on her back between her left shoulder blade and spine. One centimetre more to the right, the bullet would have hit her spine and probably been fatal. You can see the bullet below.

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