Monthly Report
July 19
Limbe Wildlife Centre: July 2019 by Guillaume LE FLOHIC Manager (Limbe Wildlife Centre) & Country Director (Pandrillus Cameroon)
Published on August 2019 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 August 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 JULY 2019 HIGHLIGHTS ACHIEVEMENTS JULY 2019 & OBJECTIVES AUGUST 2019 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership| Public Relations| Project Management 2. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment 3. Capacity building 4. Community Conservation, Environmental Education & Ecotourism 5. Management of animal population and well-being 6. Rehabilitation and release programme 7. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules 8. Communication &Visibility 9. Revenues generated
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Foreword
Dear Friends and Supporters,
There were some ups and downs in July. This month we were incredibly sad to lose Muea, a 20-year-old female Preuss’s monkey (cover page). She was the last known individual of this endangered species in any sanctuary. The Preuss’s monkey (Allochrocebus preuss), endemic to the Cross-Sanaga Region stretching over Southeastern Nigeria, Southwestern Cameroon and Bioko island, is one of the three species of the superspecies lhoesti. The others are the Sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus), endemic to Gabon, and the L'Hoest's monkey (Allochrocebus lhoesti), ranging in Eastern DRC, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
The three species are remarkable among guenon species for their distinctive behavioural and ecological characteristics, as well as their fragmented and restricted distribution, and their small populations1. Such small populations are highly vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss. As the three species, and in particular the Preuss’s and Solatus monkeys are not wellknown nor studied, we are concerned that the Preuss’s monkey, after the loss of its ambassador Muea, might get forgotten or neglected. That is the reason for this special foreword and also why Pandrillus is involved with the Programme for Sustainable 1 Motsch
P, et al. (2015). Degree of terrestrial activity of the elusive sun-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus solatus) in Gabon: comparative study of behaviour and postcranial morphometric data. American Journal of Pimatology, 77, 1060–1074.
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Management of Natural Resources SWR to bring new solutions to the protection of the Mount Cameroon National Park in which this species can be found. The other bad news is that the Pandrillus office was robbed in July. During which we lost some valuable materials recently donated, including cameras, a video projector, laptops and hard drives, at an estimated loss of almost 4,000 USD. The Pandrillus-funded security officer tried his best to arrest the two thieves and was unfortunately injured. The long-lasting crisis in the region and the resulting impoverishment of the community might be the reason behind this robbery. Of course, we will need to reinforce all our buildings and therefore rely on additional help from our supporters like you, and from the Government of Cameroon, to provide staff and volunteers with a safe environment to focus on our work and our rescued animals. Fortunately, there was also some great news this month. First, Patas monkeys Leonie and Coco, transferred from Ape Action Africa a few months ago, made their first steps into their temporary enclosure, and have started interacting with the members of their future Savannah-dwelling guenon group (p. 16-18).
Furthermore, we are very proud to announce that female Western lowland gorilla Adjibolo, who has had a long history of poor body condition (regarding her weight and skin) had made quite a transformation. After more than two years of special care including a change of diet, transfer to new silverback male, new daily procedures and thorough monitoring, she is finally stable and completely healthy (p. 14-15). Gorillas are highly sensitive to stress and often a medical condition originates from other deep-rooted conditions. Our new holistic approach was a great success and we are so pleased to share that with you. Our construction team was busy as usual with their ongoing projects: the African grey parrot aviary, the bridge over the river, new enrichment for our chimps, footbaths and more (p. 8-11). This is despite the added challenge of the rainy season and flooding at the centre. Meanwhile, our Education team organised the 8th Batoke Family Nature Club. In total, 83 adults and children from the local community participated in the educational activities (p. 13-14). Next month, we will organise the end-ofprogramme ceremony for this first year of the Batoke Family Nature Club. Again this month, we received some excellent media exposure on our work rehabilitating endangered African grey parrots, with special highlights of our
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efforts made by our vet team led by Dr John Kiyang Anyam (p. 19). The report, made by Reuters, was covered by several other media outlets (among which AfricaNews and France24). We also reported our work to conserve this species this month when meeting representatives of French zoological garden (p. 8). We hope to work more with zoos around the world who have a responsibility to use the platform to
educate and engage the wider public in the urgent need to protect the environment and the wildlife within it, and that everybody, including children, must play their role. New this month: we highlight our partners supporting the most important activities of the month. Thank you for your unfailing support,
With very best wishes,
Limbe, 31 July 2019
Guillaume LE FLOHIC LWC Manager, Pandrillus Foundation
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July 2019 Highlights
□ The Pandrillus Country Director and LWC’s co-manager hold another series of meetings in France □ Batoke’s Family Nature Club: Organised the 8th session on the 13 July 2019 on Ecosystem Education in Mount Cameroon National Park □ Mandrill: Opened access to the densely grassed strip left fallow and rotated □ Western lowland gorilla: Adjibolo’s (adult female) body condition is finally good and stable after a long history of poor body condition □ Media coverage: 3 international reports made
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Achievements July 2019 & Objectives August 2019 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership| Public Relations| Project Management □ The Pandrillus Country Director and the LWC Co-manager hold another series of meetings in several zoological parks in France to advocate for Pandrillus long-term vision for the Limbe Wildlife Centre and Wildlife Protection in Cameroon
August 2019 objectives: □ Validate internal rules and regulations (pending)
2. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment □ Continued to build the bridge over the second arm of the Limbe River (Images 1-5) □ Continued to build the new African grey parrot aviary (Images 6-8) □ Shifted the fallow strip in the Mandrill enclosure (Images 9-10) □ Started to build of the new structural enrichment in the Chimp Mainland enclosure (Images 11a&b) □ Maintained traditional organic-made roofs of guenons, duikers and python facilities (Images 12-14) □ Renovated 35 footbaths in several sections (Images 15)
Image 1. Formwork setting up to Image 2. Concreting of the slab concrete an access slab to the bridge.
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Image 3. View of the finished slab.
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Image 4. Bridge setting up.
Image 5. The first half of the metal Image 6. The second layer of painting on bridge is set up! the foundation frame of the new African grey parrot aviary
Image 7. Welding of rod mesh to serve Image 8. The first and second layer of as the ground of the African grey parrot painting for the rod mesh for the ground of aviary the new African grey parrot aviary
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Image 9. The fallow-land position Image 10. View of the previous strip left changed for new vegetation to grow. fallow and densely grown to serve as natural enrichment for our Mandrills.
Image 11a&b. Preparation and setting up of the staircase in the Chimp Mainland enclosure. This heavy metal structure will serve as a new enrichment for the Chimpanzees. We always recycle as much material as possible (kindly donated by corporate or purchased) to provide an original and enriched environment to our animals, hence enhancing their welfare.
Image 12. Crafting of the new roof at Image 13. Setting up traditional matts over
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the Mona monkey enclosure (Saker’s the satellite cage of the Savannahgroup). dwelling guenon enclosure. By using this eco-friendly material, we contribute to sustaining local community activities and help keep traditional techniques.
Image 14. Jacob TEBO is one of our oldest staff and is also one of the most resourceful when it comes to using traditional material. We are happy to see Jacob strong and healthy after his terrible accident at the beginning of the year (see February report)
Image 15. Footbaths are placed before all entrance door to enclosure and satellite cages in order to reduce pathogen transmission to our animals.
August 2019 objectives: □ Continue the construction of the new African grey parrot aviary □ Complete the structural enrichment in the Chimp Mainland enclosure □ Start the renovation of the Olive baboon satellite cage □ Start placing new escape-proof overhangs in the Drill enclosure □ Start restructuring the vet clinic/quarantine/chimp nursery complex
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3. Capacity building □ Monthly Workshop: Enhancing caretaker monthly reporting on animal husbandry, welfare and group cohesion, by Jonathan Kang (Head Keeper) (Image 16) □ Monthly Workshop: Using behavioural observations to assess gorilla space use in the enclosure and to improve enclosure design, by Aurore Balaran (Behavioural expert) (Image 17)
Image 16. Jonathan Kang, Head Keeper, explains to his colleagues the new monthly report that each head of sections has been entitled to make to enhance communication and animal population management. As a rule, we value every staff member but also empower them to take more responsibility and feel more involved in the functioning of the LWC.
Image 17. Aurore Balaran, after 6 months observing our groups of Western lowland gorilla, shared with the staff and management her findings as regards the use of space in the enclosures. She also synthesized the plan to improve the enclosure design.
August 2019 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities □ Organise monthly staff workshop: Why the Protect Wildlife Campaign in Limbe? Outcomes, partners and future steps, by Cyril Delfosse (Pandrillus Community Awareness & Education Programme Coordinator)
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4. Community Conservation, Environmental Education & Ecotourism □ Nature's Club: Continued the 2018-2019 programme: 160 kids registered; monthly effort: 15 children.days; Nature’s Club is in summer break until September 2019 Sessions: International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems □ School outreach programme: 2019-2020 programme will start on September 2019 □ Batoke’s Family Nature Club: Organised the 8th session on the 13 July 2019 on Ecosystem Education in Mount Cameroon National Park: 38 families, 83 participants (31% females, 42 children between 4 and 17 years old (51%), 52% of adults are members of the Green Project (Images 18-21) □ Community-based Green Economy: 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild herbaceous plants: 799.5 kg of Aframomum stems and 478 kg of Costus stems; 50 women members harvesting crop by-product: 747 kg of cassava leaves, 4,277 kg of papaya leaves, 3,524 kg of potato leaves, 400 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to 89 trees hand-cut; 1,032,260 XAF (€1,576) paid directly to the local community association this month; 6,089,255 XAF (€9,297) contributed to alleviate local poverty in 2019.
Image 18. For the 8th session of the Batoke’s Family Nature Club, our head of Education Wilson ATEH organised a drama with all the community members to reproduce the forest ecosystem and the threats it faces. By directly acting the story, the community members understood the importance of protecting the forest.
Image 19. The monitoring expert from our partner KRCS gave a presentation to the community members to explain his job. He described the unique biodiversity of Mount Cameroun and how it is fragile. Adults and children enjoyed a lot to see and remember the animals living close to their village.
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Image 20. Children were drawing some elements part of the forest ecosystem. Our educators animated a game where each person was an element from the forest and need to discuss by pairs to explain how each is important for the other.
Image 21. Adults and children enjoyed drawing animals and plants to explain their role in the forest ecosystem, during the 8th session of the Batoke’s Family Nature Club.
August 2019 objectives: □ Continue with ongoing programs □ Organise the Final session of the Batoke Family Nature Club
5. Management of animal population and well-being Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichment in each section □ Chimpanzee: Continued the new positive reinforcement training plan to improve behavioural and social skills of Ngambe (adult female): stimulated social play behaviours with Mayos (adult handicapped female) Specific activities □ Western lowland gorilla: Adjibolo’s (adult female) body condition is finally good and stable after a long history of poor body condition (Images 22a,b&c, 23) □ Mandrill: Opened access to the densely grassed strip left fallow and rotated (Image 24)
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□ Vet cares (July 2019): ◌ 15 Primate individuals treated; 4 anaesthesia performed; 4 individuals sampled (2 blood samples for haematology analysis, 3 faecal samples for coprology analysis); 1 contraception; 1 identification with microchip; 17 drug therapies: 24% dietary supplements, 18% antiparasitic, 12% anti-inflammatories), 12% fluid therapies, 12% laxative, 6% antibiotics, 18% others; 1 health check: Drill (1); 1 death: Drill (1: Mundango (adult female, unknown cause)); 1 euthanasia: Preuss’s monkey (1: Muea (adult senescent female, fast-deteriorating condition due to old age) ◌ 14 African grey parrots treated and 1 rescued juvenile Black Goshhawk (Image 25); 16 drug therapies: antibiotics and dietary supplements; 1 death
Image 22a,b&c. After 3 years following a new holistic approach to address her longlasting health issue consisting of daily efforts, health checks, behavioural and health monitoring, special care and group transfer, Adjibolo is finally looking great, strong and hairy. She is also much less stressed but will remain under close observation.
Image 23. We cannot resist to show this great picture of Adjibolo playing under the rain. What a beautiful female she has become!
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Image 24. Our mandrills foraged in the densely grown grassed strip previously left fallow. There, they find insects, gastropods, fresh leaves, stems and roots to feed on: a great rich and natural enrichment!
Image 25. A juvenile black goshawk was accidentally trapped in a local compound and brought to the LWC for care. Our vet team gave the individual a check over before release.
August 2019 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ Chimpanzee: Continue the new positive reinforcement training plan for Ngambe (adult female) □ Vet cares: General health checks: None; Contraception: None
6. Rehabilitation and release programme Arrival & quarantine □ Rescued 1 juvenile Black Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)
Behavioural rehabilitation □ None
Social rehabilitation □ Patas monkey: Continued the social integration of Leonie and Coco (2 subadult females) to the savannah-dwelling guenon group: first steps into their new
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temporary enclosure and interactions with other individuals through the mesh (Images 26-29)
Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) â–Ą Released 1 juvenile Black Goshawk (Image 30)
Image 26. The first step back on the natural ground is always a stressful but quickly exciting moment for primates in rehabilitation. After a month in satellite, Coco and Leonie finally enjoyed their new temporary enclosure.
Image 27. Coco, the youngest of Image 28. The temporary enclosure, which both females, went out first, will later serve Malende’s re-socialization, has encouraging Leonie to follow! been fully enriched to make both Leonie and Coco the most comfortable possible, hence facilitating interactions with the members of the group.
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Image 29. The two Patas monkeys, Image 30. Killi Matute, Head of Quarantine, Leonie and Coco, transferred from releasing the Black Goshawk back into the Ape Action Africa in April 2019, wild after few days of observation. discovering their new temporary enclosure in the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure. They interacted with members of their future group through the mesh. August 2019 objectives: □ African Grey Parrots: Continue the rehabilitation process of the new arrivals □ Patas monkey: Continue the social integration of Leonie and Coco to the savannah-dwelling guenon group
7. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules Ongoing activities □ None
Activity achievement □ None
Data analysis □ Continued the analysis of the data collected on our gorilla’s groups, in partnership with AKONGO | Wildlife connection (www.akongo.fr)
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August 2019 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities □ Continue the analysis of data collected on the gorilla groups
8. Communication &Visibility □ Digital communication (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter): Overall reach was 82,400 across all platforms. □ Media coverage: 3 international reports made Reuters report on the efforts made by the Limbe Wildlife Centre to conserve the endangered African grey parrot and highlighting the long term commitment of our Head Veterinarian Dr John Kiyang Anyam o Online report: Cameroon conservationists heal endangered African grey parrots, Reuters, 19th of July 2019, by Blaise Eyong (available here) o TV report: Au Cameroun, un centre sauve les perroquets gris, une espèce menacée, France 24, 22nd of July 2019 (available here) o TV
report:
Cameroonian
doctor
saves
endangered
Grey
Africanews, 24th of July 2019 (available here)
August 2019 objectives: □ Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon
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parrots,
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9. Revenues generated â–Ą Entrance fees (July 2019): 599,000 XAF (1,527 visitors; 58% adults, 42% children) 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Adult Nationals
Children Nationals
Adult Foreigners
Children Foreigners
Figure 1.Visitor statistics July 2018-July 2019
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