Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Sanctuary Project Updates and Achievements from Q2 2019 - African Impact

Chimp Observations 5% 4%

Behavioral Enrichment 11%

Food preparation 6%

39%

10%

7% 2%

LANGUAGE LESSON: 1.

AVG: 20.6 C

Chimp Interaction 3%

Farming Educational Activities Vet Assistance Other

WHAT’S NEW ON THE GROUND?

“MWENDE BWINO” “Safe travels” in Bemba

Boundary Patrol

8%

5%

AVG TEMP:

Enclosure Cleaning

2.

3.

Our cultural evenings this quarter were taken to a different level – including chitenge (traditional Zambian dress), traditional music and eating, and learning to make some speciality dishes.

Chimfunshi welcomed a rescued visually impaired baboon which our volunteers have been providing enrichment to.

A large group of Vervet monkeys in our care have been released back into the wild.

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Our volunteers spent some time observing and taking notes of the chimps’ behaviour. This data will aid in current behavioural enrichment projects.

Scrubbing and sweeping chimp enclosures was one of the main activities this quarter. We want our chimps to have a happy home at Chimfunshi.

Our volunteers spent Just over 20 hours preparing fruit and vegetables and rolling nshima balls (a Zambian delicacy) for the chimps’ lunch and dinner.

We were privileged to have enjoyed 18 hours interacting with two very special chimps exploring their enclosure together.

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Volunteers spent time brainstorming and preparing enrichment activities for our four incredibly clever ‘Escape Artists’, Vervet monkeys, and African grey parrots.

The Vervet monkeys were challenged with a slinky, a rotating dog treat dispenser and ropes with knots and raisins within.

Miriam, our “engineer” chimp was given frozen treats, a raisin board (which she figured out immediately) and ropes with knots to tie and untie. Smart girl!

The Escape Artists were thoroughly challenged this time around! They fished apples from a bucket using a pole.

Chiffon excelled at this activity!

Colin continues to play throw and catch. Colin also enjoys paying hide and seek around the enclosure.

The chimps were also encouraged to show natural behaviors: foraging for food hidden around their enclosure, hidden in things such as bottles and pipes, and nestbuilding with vegetation in the enclosure.

“I have learned so much about wildlife conservation and how I can help improve the lives of wild animals after I leave the project. I have learnt so much about the Zambian culture, even only after 2-weeks with African Impact. Zambians are some of the friendliest people I have ever meant.”

Tierney, United States

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We spent nearly 13 hours observing the chimps – feeding, playing, grooming and just being chimps!

3 hours patrolling the enclosure boundaries to make sure they were safe and secure.

Nearly 16 hours scrubbing and sweeping enclosures to help keep them clean for the chimps.

Just under 40 hours preparing fruit and vegetables and rolling nshima balls for the chimps’ lunch and dinner.

Privileged to have enjoyed 18 hours interacting with two very special chimps exploring their enclosure together.

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Volunteers spent time in Chimfunshi’s garden, harvesting fruit and vegetables, helping them reach their goal of being self-sustaining.

We collectively picked and harvested 40 sacks of oranges, lemons, Chinese cabbage and eggplants.

We harvested 200kg of beans, 90kg of spinach and 500 kg of guavas.

Our volunteers assisted in weighing cattle as well as observing them being dipped to remove external parasites.

Both watched and assisted veterinarian in deworming bulls via injection.

Volunteers helped monitor and record information for seven health checks with vet, Thalita. These chimps included Masia, her baby Mumba, Annie the juvenile chimp, Spacio the baboon, and three Vervet monkeys.

Thalita taught volunteers to administer de-worming medication via injection and how to feed our resident rescue owls.

Volunteers also prepped and delivered medication for chimpanzees