Baboons arrive in Lwiro

A couple of weeks ago the ICCN brought two olive baboons that they had confiscated from bad conditions to Lwiro. It's a young male and a young female, and they've been named Killo and Killa. They are going through their quarantine at the moment and are doing well! We are very glad that our new baboon enclosure, funded by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, soon is finished! Because the CRPL now cares for 15 baboons!

Itebero is introduced to Walikale!

On the 20^th of September Itebero was introduced to Walikale for the first time! They had a great day together and even played quite a lot. Itebero also took well to Papa Luc, the caregiver! Itebero is now in with Walikale and Papa Luc full time and has adjusted very well. We will keep you updated!

Roots&Shoots Peace Day in Lwiro!

Last Sunday the R&S-Lwiro club celebrated the Peace Day! Another R&S group from Bukavu (R&S-Heri Kwetu) was invited to join them in this special celebration. This guest group is formed with children who come from the Heri Kwetu center which is a center for disabled, handicaped or orphan children. More than 200 kids were together to talk about the importance of the Peace not just for humans but also for the animals and the environment.

Both R&S clubs prepare banners, songs and dramas for the Peace Day. The kids enjoyed performing and sharing their peace wishes. They made a sign with their messages of peace on hand cut outs (Amani is Peace in swahili).

It was also a special date for sharing experiences and activities to protect the environment and especially the primates.

Meet Luguswa!

Last Friday afternoon a new chimp arrived unexpectedly to Lwiro in a tiny wooden cage. He was brought by authorities of the Ministery of the Environment of South Kivu. He had been confiscated in a village from the south of the province after being kept there as pet for 3 years...

The chimp name is Luguswa. He is a male about 4 years old with a very special personality. Although he is so thin, pale and hairless, he is strong and very confident with the keeper. His past must have been really hard and now he is really enjoying his new life at the sanctuary. He specially loves feeding times...so many different kind of vegetables and fruits to choose!

Hopefully in few weeks he will get more weight and he will become a healthy and happy chimp ready to meet the group of youngers!

Walikale having a sun bath!

After some days of heavy rain at last the sun shines again in Lwiro! This morning was the time to have a sun bath and Walikale enjoyed the outdoors with his keeper. He is doing pretty well and he loves having naps.

Itebero is improving little by little. He needs to rest and get used to his new place. He is getting the best attention and cares. We'll post some pictures soon.

New arrival at the CRPL

Itebero is the last arrival in Lwiro. He was confiscated to poachers by the ICCN in Walikale and brought to the CRPL. He arrived in very poor conditions and presented a rotten snare under the skin and muscles of his right wrist. After removing the wire under anesthesia, we could appreciate he can't move his right hand due to the aberrant cicatrization of the tendons and muscles. Itebero has also terrible scars in his waist that indicate he has been tied with a rope for several months.

He is completely malnourished and weak but is drinking milk and eating some fruits (he adores passion fruit!). He has proved he's got a strong character who helped him to survive to such terrible experiences and now he is getting lot of cares at the sanctuary. We will keep you updated on his advances.

Still building...

Our construction team is working overtime, the overhangs are still going up on the Chimpanzee Habitat! And, the foundations are being laid for the Baboon Habitat!

Construction continues - for the chimpanzees and baboons!

The chimpanzee habitat continues....

And so does the baboon habitat!

Friends of Lwiro Australia run the Sydney's City to Surf for the CRPL!

Friends of LWIRO Australia is one of the Management Advisory Groups of the CRPL – raising funds for operational costs and providing advise and technical support! See below the great efforts they go to too support the CRPL!

Friends of LWIRO Australia committee members and supporters ran the gruelling 14km from Sydney City to Bondi Beach as part of Sydney’s City to Surf fun run. The goal was to raise money for Centre for Primate Rehabilitation LWIRO (CRPL).

The team looked great wearing the new Friends of LWIRO Australia t-shirts while they joined 85 000 other runners to conquer heart break hill, the long stretches to the beach and the rain.

Lou, Wally, Brent, Lou, Katie, Rochelle, Ryan, Hayley, Brownie, Simon and Indhi (the youngest runner at just 6 years old!) all had a great time. Well done team! Thanks for your support for CRPL!

Simon, FOL Australia.

Construction begins on the new baboon facility!

Saturday we started to measure out the perimeters for the new baboon facility which has been financed by the Fondation Brigitte Bardot!

This facility will improve the life of our baboon residents no end! We will keep you updated on the progress.

Chimpanzee Habitat for Conservation and Education continues...

The overhang for the forest fence is going up fast now! The fence is looking more complete every day!

THANK YOU FONDATION BRIGITTE BARDOT!

The CRPL would like to thank the Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their generous grant to construct a new facility for our baboon residents. Your help is so appreciated!

The addition of this new facility to the CRPL will change the lives of these animals by giving them a larger space which will be both mentally and physically more stimulating than their current cages.

Thank you!

We will keep you all posted on the construction of the facility on the blog as it happens.

http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/

Walikale Update!

Walikale has been at the CRPL for almost a month now. Before arriving, his family group were attacked by poachers. Some of the chimpanzees would have been killed for meat, while Walikale was probably taken alive to sell as a pet. However, the Congolese government conservation authority (ICCN) intercepted Walikale and bought him to the CRPL for rehabilitation and care.

We believe Walikale is around 4-5 months old as he is very small and has under developed motor skills. He is however doing very well, eating lots of different foods and playing and laughing continuously through the day. Being a very small baby, Walikale also takes a few naps!

The forest fence continues - with thanks to IPPL and the Arcus Foundation!

With thanks to the International Primate Protection League and the Arcus Foundation we were able to start the new faze of our ‘Chimpanzee Habitat for Conservation and Education’ yesterday! The money they have granted us was used to purchase a part of the metallic overhang and will be used for some general running costs for the centre and also a military education program! Once again we are so grateful for the support of IPPL and the Arcus foundation! And we are so excited to be continuing with the forest enclosure!