So I think I wrote earlier, the sanctuary is based at CRSN (a research centre set up by the Belgians in the 50’s) and is used for research on the volcanoes and nation park and stuff (not on animals we are told…) The ICCN (local authorities who confiscate animals) had no where else to house the animals other than here. The facilities are far from satisfactory compared to projects such as Ngamba island (island for chimps in Uanda where chimps run free I the forest) as the guys here are in enclosures/rooms/cages which could be bigger… it is a step backwards for the Goma chimps from being up in the trees in the garden, but we can do more for the rest of the animals here if they are altogether. But they are young so spend most of their time playing so shouldn’t have too much trouble with the transition. The chimps are all in groups (3 at the moment, our new group and another 5 of Shege’s age will come together, and then a group of 9 older chimps).
The short term plans- firstly are to get the rest of the monkeys in a better enclosure. We have 27 monkeys, (2 came in last week) but only 7 are in suitable conditions. Their enclosures are…to put it bluntly… cack. But that is what we’re here for. Times are a changing. We have 3 long enclosures to develop and another one to build, construction of which has started this week. The three long enclosures should be ready in a couple of weeks, so most will be housed properly very soon. After this the chimp enclosures will be enlarged, and a bigger one built at the back for the larger chimps to be able to look out into the forest. Apparently we may also be getting the four gorillas that were at MGVP in Goma but moved to Rwanda a while ago also… They should be housed in DRC because that is where they originate from.
Lwiro needs developing only to the most necessary standard, as the plan in 2-3 years is to move the sanctuary to Chabatti, 4 km away bordering the National Park. The land needs to have trees planted in the next few months ready for the move. There is little space to develop here in Lwiro, but a necessity to improve the quality of life of the residents until the move can be made. The current sanctuary will then be used as a quarantine for incoming animals. Once settled in Chabatti, the plan will be to release the two groups into the national park. Carmen, the Spanish vet here (works with a Spanish organisation called COOPERA) has previously worked in Congo Brazzaville with HELPcongo, where they have released 37 chimpanzees, monitored daily for 10 years. The released females have produced offspring fathered by wild chimpanzees so the rehabilitation appears to be pretty successful!
The short term plans- firstly are to get the rest of the monkeys in a better enclosure. We have 27 monkeys, (2 came in last week) but only 7 are in suitable conditions. Their enclosures are…to put it bluntly… cack. But that is what we’re here for. Times are a changing. We have 3 long enclosures to develop and another one to build, construction of which has started this week. The three long enclosures should be ready in a couple of weeks, so most will be housed properly very soon. After this the chimp enclosures will be enlarged, and a bigger one built at the back for the larger chimps to be able to look out into the forest. Apparently we may also be getting the four gorillas that were at MGVP in Goma but moved to Rwanda a while ago also… They should be housed in DRC because that is where they originate from.
Lwiro needs developing only to the most necessary standard, as the plan in 2-3 years is to move the sanctuary to Chabatti, 4 km away bordering the National Park. The land needs to have trees planted in the next few months ready for the move. There is little space to develop here in Lwiro, but a necessity to improve the quality of life of the residents until the move can be made. The current sanctuary will then be used as a quarantine for incoming animals. Once settled in Chabatti, the plan will be to release the two groups into the national park. Carmen, the Spanish vet here (works with a Spanish organisation called COOPERA) has previously worked in Congo Brazzaville with HELPcongo, where they have released 37 chimpanzees, monitored daily for 10 years. The released females have produced offspring fathered by wild chimpanzees so the rehabilitation appears to be pretty successful!
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