Murijiza - miracle

A couple of weeks ago the keepers got a big surprise while feeding the monkeys in the morning. There was an extra head to count! Overnight, Vienna, a female Owl-faced monkey had given birth. The strange thing is that only female monkeys are currently living in this cage. However, five months ago Sidney (who has passed away) was also in the cage. After the females hurt him he was removed from the cage for one month to recover and afterward was place back inside the cage. The next day Sidney was found dead, with no injuries at all to his body. We can only assume that Sidney is the father of this new little monkey who has been named Murijiza (miracle in Swahili). Of course, it is not ideal for sanctuaries to breed animals, and we do what we can to prevent this. However, we have limited recourses and facilities. At present we are working on implanting all of the female monkeys with contraceptives.

-Andrea-

New arrival, Hombo

A baby Blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) arrived on the 8th of September with the staff of the ICCN. He has been named Hombo as he arrived from the Hombo forest in South Kivu.

Hombo

New arrivals, Civets!

Civet babies on arrival

On the 18th of August we were told by the ICCN to expect the arrival of a civet that afternoon. No other details were known except that the civet was coming from Lulingu by airplane. We began looking for suitable housing and food so that we would be ready for when the animal arrived. When the ICCN representative arrived he was carrying a small basket and inside it were three baby civets. They were so young that their eyes were closed most of the time, they were very unstable on their feet and they could not eat solid food. We are not well equipped for caring for animals such as these dogs like omnivores at Centre for rehabilitation of Primates in Lwiro. However, we always give the best care we are able, to any animal that arrives. As they were so small we decided it best that they stay in the house to be cared for around the clock. They were receiving three hourly milk feeds day and night.

Almost a month on, the three baby civets are doing very well. They have grown tremendously, have their eyes open and bright and run around a lot. They are still receiving milk feeds regularly and yesterday we began offering small amounts of meat. They now spend the day in a small make-shift yard, but still sleep inside at nights.

-Andrea-

Misisi is doing well!

Misisi

Misisi was introduced to the nursery cage about one and a half months ago. From the first day she adjusted well and remained in the cage day and night. Misisi is now extremely dominant within the cage. She loves to play with all the other babies and needs constant attention from them all. She demands to be the first to have milk in the morning and the porridge at night.

Maiko with Misisi in the background looking for peanuts

-Andrea-

Update on Mangay

Mangay


Mangay is one of the babies who arrived with the Aketi 5 chimpanzees. When he arrived he showed some very abnormal behaviours such as laying on the ground and rotating his hands and he also was quite unresponsive and scared. These behaviours have slowly been decreasing, until last month when he only exhibited them when all the babies went into the dormitory to sleep. However, I am very happy to report that now the behaviours have stopped all together. Mangay seems like a different chimpanzee. He is happy, playful and well adjusted.

Mangay
Mangay hugging Misisi


-Andrea-

Fun day for the gomagroup!

The wonderful chimpanzee caregivers decided to put some branches up in the goma group cage as an enrichment activity today. As you can see in the next picture, the chimpanzees had a wonderful time with the new addition to the cage. It lasted only about 15 minutes before everything was on the ground again!

Loia and Butembo introduced to the others!

Mama Dorcas with Butembo and Loia

Loia and Butembo were introduced to the nursery cage today. Both of the babies were a little scared at the beginning, but all in all it went very well. Of course all of the other babies are curious to meet the new additions and sometimes they can be a little rough. Mama Dorcas will remain in the cage with them during the days coming until they become accustomed to their new surroundings. At night the boys will sleep in the cage inside the house as they have been for the past month. I am sure within no time, they will be happy with their new friends.

-Andrea-

Thank you!

We would like to thank Cathy Hancock for raising 118 dollars for CRPL. She celebrated her birthday in June, and asked everyone that came to her birthday party to make a donation for Lwiro instead of bringing her a birthday present! Great initiativ! Thank you so much! You are a star!

Also a big thank you for Christine G. for donating 50 dollars here on the blog!

All donations are really apreciated, and it really does make a difference!

New arrival, Coco Kalonge

On Sunday the 2nd of August the ICCN arrived with a new Red-tailed Monkey. This monkey is a very small male – only 6 months to a year old. We have put him in the cage with Nunuse (the baby Owl-faced monkey) so that they both have some company. They are doing well together. His name is ‘Coco Kalonge’, as he was confiscated in Kalonge. But Coco will be his daily name, as we already have a baboon called Kalonge!
Andrea

Coco Kalonge Coco giving Nunuse a hug

Bavo the baboon before confiscation