Monthly Report
November 18
Limbe Wildlife Centre: November 2018 by Guillaume LE FLOHIC Manager (Limbe Wildlife Centre) & Country Director (Pandrillus Cameroon)
Published in December 2018 Limbe Wildlife Centre, P.O. Box 878, Limbe, Republic of Cameroon
Limbe Wildlife Centre is a collaborative effort between the Pandrillus Foundation and the Republic of Cameroon, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, MINFOF Pandrillus Foundation is a non-profit making NGO specialized in the protection, rehabilitation and reintroduction of primates, as well as management and sustainable financing of conservation projects in Africa. Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is in charge of implementing the national forest policy for ensuring sustainable management and conservation of wildlife and biodiversity over the national territory as enacted by forestry law No. 01/94 of 20 January which regulates all forestry, wildlife and fisheries activities
guillaume@limbewildlife.org limbewildlifecentre
+237 681 991 590 limbewildlife
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limbewildlife.org limbewildlife
Monthly Report
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Content
FOREWORD OCTOBER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS ACHIEVEMENTS OCTOBER 2018 & OBJECTIVES NOVEMBER 2018 1. LWC-RoC Partnership 2. Basic documents 3. Administration, Human Resources & Finance 4. Infrastructures and development 5. Material & Equipment 6. Capacity building 7. Conservation and Environmental Education 8. Constituency for conservation 9. Conservation ecotourism 10. Management of animal population and well-being 11. Rehabilitation and release programme 12. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules 13. Communication & Visibility 14. Revenues generated
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4 6 7 7 7 7 7 12 12 13 14 15 15 16 17 18 19
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Foreword
Dear Friends and Supporters, We are really pleased with our achievements in November – it has been a highly productive and positive month! At the beginning of the month, we held our 1st Batoke Family Nature Club session, as part of our community outreach and education programme (p 13-14). A phenomenal 240 community members registered for the programme and participated! During this session we performed pre-tests and collected opinions on various environmental issues to assess their perceptions and understanding of conservation. The main goal is to further engage the community with the nature surrounding them, but also to have some fun! The next session, which will focus on flora and fauna in Cameroon, will be organised in December.
The first week of November, I travelled to Sierra Leone in West Africa; undertaking a 26 hour long trip across Africa to attend the Annual Pan African Sanctuary Alliance conference. Although continental travels between Central and West Africa are a nightmare, the visit to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, another PASA member, was definitely worthwhile (p 1213). By bringing together all PASA members and amalgamating both the old and new generation of managers, we were able to learn new things and boost collaboration. If we are to effectively fight against the ongoing catastrophic decline of wildlife populations all over the continent, it is critical to join together and show strength. In West Arica especially, hunting of chimpanzees is ruthless and the associated trade of live babies is of grave concern. There is need not only for more community engagement, but an urgent need for stronger political investment and
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support. It is also critical that assisting organisations better work together. The biggest satisfaction this month was brought from the construction team. Our drill supporters will definitely appreciate all the work done to renovate and reenrich their enclosure (p 7-11). Our facilities are challenging, but thanks to the creativity and ingenuity of our team, we overcome these to provide the best possible environment for our rescued animals. Finally, the Limbe Wildlife Centre was chosen to be part of the Green Cops series (p 18). The documentary aims at highlighting the challenges of biodiversity conservation in Cameroon, as well as the
efforts made to protect wildlife in National Parks, enforce wildlife law and rehabilitate wildlife victims of poaching, with a special focus on our best ambassador: infant gorilla Bobga, who this month experienced his first time back in the forest (p 16-17)! The series should be broadcasted early next year on Planete +, a very popular channel available in Africa. As the holiday season is approaching, we hope you might consider a small gift to the LWC to help us continue our important work. Thank you for your unfailing support,
With very best wishes,
Limbe, 30 November 2018
Guillaume LE FLOHIC LWC Manager, Pandrillus Foundation
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November 2018 Highlights
□ Maintained and redesigned the two-levels climbing structure in the Drill enclosure □ Prepared, improved and remounted the Drill metal tree □ Organised the first session of the Batoke’s Family Nature Club □ Western lowland gorilla: Bobga was introduced into a forested area of the Limbe Botanical Garden □ Limbe Wildlife Centre was highlighted in the Green Cops season to be broadcast on Planete + channel -6 -
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Achievements November 2018 & Objectives December 2018 1. LWC-RoC Partnership □ Limbe Wildlife Centre-Limbe Botanical Garden: gorilla Bobga environmental rehabilitation continues in the forest nearby
December 2018 objectives: □ None
2. Basic documents □ None
December 2018 objectives: □ Validate internal rules and regulations
3. Administration, Human Resources & Finance □ None
December 2018 objectives: □ None
4. Infrastructures and development □ Prepared, improved and remounted the Drill metal tree (Images 1-8) □ Maintained and redesigned the two levels climbing structure in the Drill enclosure (Images 9-11) □ Started to increase the complexity and richness of the structural enrichments in the Drill enclosure (Images 12-15) □ Changed electric wire wooden support poles in the Drill enclosure
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â–Ą Maintained and replaced one sliding door at the Chimp Mainland â–Ą Build a new water pool in the Chimp Nursery (Images 16-18)
Image 1. Crafting and designing of the Image 2. Crafting and attachment of Drill metal tree new base pillar supports. the new foundation basket with base supports for the Drill metal tree.
Image 3. Drill metal tree mounting test for Image 4. Digging and preparation of the adjustment and alignment purposes. Drill metal tree new position and insertion of prepared base supports with foundation basket.
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Image 5. Concreting of the Drill metal tree Image 6. Mounting the Drill metal tree base surface supports. lower pillar stud and beam stems.
Image 7. Mounting of lower support Image 8. Mounting, aligning and branches and arrangement of the lower fastening of the Drill metal tree upper resting and seating layout platform of the pillar stud and beam stems. Drill metal tree.
Image 9. Scribbling and cleaning of the Image 10. Painting of first layer antirust Drill two-levels climbing structure pillars and final green paint on the Drill twoand beam layout. levels climbing structure
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Image 11. Arrangement and laying of Image 12. Current view of the Drill wooden platforms on the Drill two-levels enclosure: a network of ropes and fire climbing structure. hose serves to connect the two renovated enrichments structures.
Image 13. The young drills in particular are stimulate by the presence of new enrichments. It provide them with new perspective, play opportunities but also help to flee bigger male as they are more agile in light enrichments.
Image 14. Placement of tyres jumping system in the Drill enclosure (this simple idea was actually “stolen� from our friend project Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone).
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Image 15. Current view of the renovated structural enrichments in the Drill enclosure. Next month, we will replace the wooden poles, create visual obstacles and install a network of swinging bamboo and ropes.
Image 16. Digging and preparation of water pool surface and drainage channels in the Chimp Nursery enclosure.
Image 17. Concreting, smoothing and Image 18. Chinoise and Ghaa (on the mouldings of pool surface and drainage background on the structure that will be pipe in the Chimp Nursery enclosure. renovated in the next few weeks) now enjoy their new pool. December 2018 objectives: □ Complete the re-enrichment Red-capped mangabey enclosures (pending) □ Complete the renovation and enrichment of the Drill enclosure: visual obstacles, wooden poles and network of bamboos and rope □ Start the maintenance of the Chimp Island satellite cages
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5. Material & Equipment □ None
December 2018 objectives: □ None
6. Capacity building Ongoing activities □ Professionalised & trained staff, students and volunteers on behavioural (quarantine & stage 1) and social (stage 2) rehabilitation □ Empowered our vet nurse at capturing veterinary records in our database
Specific activities □ Attended the PASA Strategic Development Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone (2-8 Nov) (Images 19-20)
Image 19. Informative board on various behaviours usually displayed by wild chimpanzees at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone. Environmental education is one of the main pillars of Tacugama's activities, along with field research, community conservation and chimpanzee rescue and rehabilitation.
Image 20. Bala Amarasekaran (taking the picture), funder & director of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary since 1995, invited Ms Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, to make a speech at the PASA SDC 2018. She explained her goal to transform Freetown by improving sanitation and environment, described several initiatives to develop ecotourism in
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this beautiful country and insisted on the necessity to engage the youth to be part of an exciting transformation story. December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities
7. Conservation and Environmental Education □ Nature's Club: Started the 2018-2019 programme: 111 kids registered; monthly effort: 538 children.days □ School outreach programme: Started the 2018-2019 programme: 80.1 men.hrs, covering 10 schools, 21 classes and 1,004 students □ Batoke’s Family Nature Club: Organised the first session on the 3rd November : 66 families, 240 particpants (64% females, 157 children between 4 and 17 years old (46%), 65% of community members not inviolved in the Green Project) (Images 2124)
Image 21. Introductory speech to the Image 22. Group activity to discuss the community members in Batoke’s hall opinion of the communities as regards gently made at the disposal for the wildlife protection, importance of the forest Family Nature Club. for their survival
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Image 23. Each family was interviewed Image 24. The kids of Batoke performed to evaluate their knowledge about their group dancing to entertain all families surrounding biodiversity but also to involved in the program. assess their relationship with wildlife. Average score was 60% success. December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with ongoing programs □ Organise session 2 of the Family Nature Club
8. Constituency for conservation □ Community-based Green Economy: 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild herbaceous plants: 799,5 kg of Aframomum stems and 678 kg of Costus stems; 41 women members harvesting crop by-product: 873 kg of cassava leaves, 1,740 kg of papaya leaves, 3,462 kg of potato leaves, 655 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to 146 trees hand cut; 857,135 XAF (€1,309) paid directly to the local community association this month; 9,563,160 XAF (€14,600) contributed to alleviate poverty in 2018.
December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing programme
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9. Conservation ecotourism □ Continued with the ongoing activities
December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities
10. Management of animal population and well-being Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichment in each section □ Drill: Continued the reintegration of Jomio (adult male), Ossing (adult female) and their baby back to the group: transfer in satellite cage □ Drill: Temporarily suspended training of Chipo, young adult male and excellent escapee, to return to satellite cage using positive reinforcement training methodology
Specific activities □ Tantalus monkey: Started re-socialization process of Malende (adult male) in a satellite cage of the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure in view of future possible re-integration into the group
□ Vet cares (November 2018): ◌ 29 Primate individuals treated; 5 anaesthesia performed; 18 individuals sampled (1 blood samples for haematology analysis, 0 blood samples for biochemistry analysis, 19 faecal samples for coprology analysis, 1 exudate sample for microbiology analysis); 0 identification with microchip; 0 minor surgery; 1 laceration repairs; 25 drug therapies: 28% dietary supplements, 24% arthritis supplements, 24% antibiotics, 12% anti-inflammatories, 4% insulin injections and other anti-diabetic treatments for diabetic individuals, 4% antifungals, 4% others, 0% antiparasitics; 1 health check; 0 death; 0 euthanasia
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December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ Tantalus monkey: Continue Malende's (adult male) re-integration process □ Vet cares: 2nd health check: Mona monkey (Akwa, subadult male); General health checks: None; Contraception: None; Microchip identification: None
11. Rehabilitation and release programme Arrival & quarantine □ Baby large-spotted genet received daily care
Behavioural rehabilitation □ Mona monkey: Started behavioural rehabilitation of Akwa (subadult male) □ Western lowland gorilla: Continued behavioural rehabilitation of Bobga: introduced him into a forested area of the Limbe Botanical Garden to stimulate foraging and locomotive behaviours (Images 25-26)
Social rehabilitation □ None
Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) □ None
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Image 25. Bobga started environmental rehabilitation in the Limbe Botanical Garden: the forest stimulated all his senses and behaviour that will be later crucial for his survival if released back into the wild.
Image 26. As Babga climbed trees for the first time since he was extracted from the forest. After he felt once or twice, he started to pay attention to the resistance of the branch to his weight (which is not going to reduce any time soon!).
December 2018 objectives: □ Western lowland gorilla: Continue Bobga's behavioural rehabilitation by introducing him into a forested area to stimulate foraging and locomotive behaviours
12. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules Ongoing activities □ Drill: Continued daily monitoring of Monday (diabetic adult male) glycaemia, continued training for insulin injection
Activity achievement □ None
Data analysis □ None
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December 2018 objectives: □ Continue with above ongoing activities
13. Communication & Visibility □ Digital communication (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter): Facebook reach was up this month about 22% to 158,000, in particular on Twitter □ Limbe Wildlife Centre was one of the two conservation projects in Cameroon highlighted in the Green Cops season to be broadcast on Planete + channel (click here). The documentary will describe the challenges of the wildlife conservation in Cameroon and the efforts made by the Government and partner NGO (Image 27).
Image 27. Guillaume Lhotellier, journalist working for the series Green Cops was immerged for 15 days in Cameroon to address the challenges of biodiversity conservation in the country: with a special focus on in-situ protection, bush meat trade and wildlife rehabilitation. December 2018 objectives: □ Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon
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14. Revenues generated â–Ą Entrance fees (November 2018): 444,500XAF (666 visitors; 76% adults, 24% children) 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18
Adult Nationals
Children Nationals
Jul-18
Adult Foreigners
Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18
Children Foreigners
Figure 1.Visitor statistics November 2017-November 2018
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