-1-
Monthly Report
November 2020
Limbe Wildlife Centre: November 2020
Published in December 2020 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
peggy@limbewildlife.org limbewildlifecentre
+237 698877002 limbewildlife
ALL OUR REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE
-2-
limbewildlife.org limbewildlife
Monthly Report
November 2020
Accreditations & Awards
In December 2018, the Limbe Wildlife Centre has had its accreditation with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) renewed for another five years. PASA is the largest association of wildlife centres and sanctuaries in Africa, founded by the Limbe Wildlife Centre, along with 6 other primate sanctuaries. Today, PASA includes 23 organizations in 13 countries which demonstrate exceptional commitment and the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation practices, to securing a future for Africa’s primates and their habitat.
In April 2018, the Limbe Wildlife Centre was voted Best Volunteer Abroad Project and chosen to feature in the Tutorful’s Wildlife Conservation editorial along with other prestigious organisations making a notable difference in wildlife conservation worldwide. The LWC gives people the chance to volunteer and assist experienced caregivers with the daily caregiving activities, offering the opportunity for volunteers to the experience of making a meaningful contribution to primate conservation (and all the satisfaction this provides).
In August 2019, the Limbe Wildlife Centre received a 2019 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award at the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland, in recognition of the remarkable efforts the LWC has made to help combat wildlife crime.
-3-
Monthly Report
November 2020
Content
ACCREDITATIONS & AWARDS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | PROJECT MANAGER OUR PRIORITY FINANCIAL NEEDS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS ACHIEVEMENTS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 & OBJECTIVES NOVEMBER 2020 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership & Public Relations 2. Population management & Animal welfare 3. Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release programme 4. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment 5. Community Conservation, Environmental education & Ecotourism 6. Wildlife conservation research & Health monitoring 7. Capacity building, staff empowerment & Mentorship 8. Communication & Visibility 9. Revenues generated
-4-
3 5 7 8 9 11 11 15 17 20 22 23 23 25
Monthly Report
November 2020
Content
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | PROJECT MANAGER The evitable catastrophe occurred: looking at the horizon for hope and remaining strong-minded at present Dear Friends and Supporters, Our greatest fear was realised early this month when a 10 meter-long section of this protective wall collapsed, threatening the life of 28 Chimpanzees, 11 mangabeys, 25 guenons and 167 African grey parrots (i.e. 231 animals out of 373; 62% of the animal population of the LWC / LZG (p. 9). This unfortunately also places our other existing infrastructure at risk of further degradation. At least 20 more meters of the wall are now immensely fragile and are highly likely to collapse if no action is taken urgently. Fortunately, the rainy season is off, and the next couple of months allows the Government of Cameroon to take action and provide the necessary support to renovate this structure.
As always at Pandrillus, we will do our utmost to support the centre and our animals. However, with a crushing deficit created by the pandemic crisis and many maintenances done in the animal sections, Pandrillus’ financial situation does not allow for the urgent action we need. It, therefore, remains essential that the government addresses this issue as quickly as possible. The maintenance cost is estimated to be minimum ₏50,000. The much-needed maintenance of the gorilla night den has been continuing smoothly and we are very thankful to our donors for their funding of the project (p. 17-18). This is the first necessary step before starting the redesigning and re-enrichment of the large gorilla enclosure, which will enable more individuals to enjoy the outdoors each day.
-5-
Monthly Report
November 2020
This will constitute our big infrastructure project for 2021, which has been planned for the past 3 years (p. 7). Our other work this month (following the end of the rainy season) saw us preparing the third flock of African Grey parrots to be released (p. 12-16). This period is ideal as there are abundant various fruits available in trees. This will allow us to monitor them longer in the area by checking fruit trees and quicken their dietary re-adaptation. After months of limiting group gatherings, we organized a short meeting in the Batoke community and distributed face masks to raise awareness of the disease and how to prevent its transmission (p. 20-21). We are so glad that despite financial difficulties resulting from loss of sponsorship by international organizations and a Covid-19-induced financial deficit, we were able to maintain their source of revenues. In a time of economic crisis, our support to the community is essential! Our financial support to the women farmers even increased, helping them to better prepare for and endure throughout the. The 2019-2020 report was published this month, and you can
find it here. With further support, we can continue to sustain this green economy which benefits people and nature alike. Finally, as the COVID situation remains more stable, we have also been slowly resuming our teaching in schools. Next month will be the last of a very complicated year, and we thank everybody who has stood with us, not only in facing the consequences of the COVID 19 and increasing our biosecurity level but also in persisting with our important conservation work. There was no time to wait for the crisis to pass, and next month will provide a little sunshine in a very clouded, sad and frustrating year. If you wish to make a great gift to a family member or a friend, while helping us take care of disabled great apes, please consider purchasing a nice shirt HERE (p. 23-24)! We hope you will enjoy the holiday season! Stay safe and healthy, Thank you, as ever, for your unfailing support.
-6-
Our priority financial needs 1. Help us protect our rescued animals during COVID-19! We must boost the immunity of 15 critically endangered gorillas, 43 endangered chimps, and 75 endangered Drills and upgrade biosecurity measures vs. COVID-19. 30000
COVID-19 updates in Cameroon The number of confirmed cases approaches 24,500, reaching a stabilisation in the number of new cases detected.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cameroon (source: MINSANTE)
25000 20000 15000
DONATE NOW TO PROTECT THEM FROM COVID-19!
10000 5000 0 Mar-20
May-20
Jul-20
Sep-20
Nov-20
2. Help us free 100 parrots back to the wild in 2020! We are leading the National rehabilitation and release programme for the endangered African grey parrot. Before the end of 2020, we will release 60 more flyers!
RELEASE PARROTS NOW! 3. Splitting the large gorilla enclosure Maintenance was sponsored!! Now, to enable our gorillas to enjoy an enriched outdoor every day, take part in this amazing project and help us divide and re-enrich the largest enclosure with climbing structure and shelter to rest, hide and play. Goal: â‚Ź25,000
RE-ENRICH THE GORILLAS ENCLOSURE HERE! Contact info@limbewildlife.org to know more
-7-
November 2020
Monthly Report
November 2020 Highlights □ EMERGENCY: the protective wall collapsed and needs urgent repairs □ Transferred the 3rd flock of African grey parrots to the soft-release aviary □ Started the 2020-2021 school outreach programme in 5 schools, 21 classes and reached 854 schoolchildren □ Organised a community engagement workshop in Batoke to discuss about maintaining the support during the pandemic crisis □ Published the 2019-2020 Communitybased Green Project report □ Launched a T-shirt fundraiser in the
loving memory of chimpanzee Ghaa □ Media coverage: 3 local reports made on the collapse of the protective wall
-8-
November 2020
Monthly Report
The collapse of Limbe Zoological Garden’s Island protective wall poses a significant risk to the health and safety of staff and animals. The integrity of the remaining infrastructure is now a primary concern and urgent action needs to be taken by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
Section of the protective wall that collapsed in front of the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure built in 2019 on Limbe Zoological Garden.
The Island houses 231 animals who are now at risk. From left to the right: endangered chimpanzee, Tantalus monkey and the endangered African grey parrot
-9-
November 2020
Monthly Report
LWC’S SPECIAL SUPPORTER A word from ANNELIES BEGAS
Annelies is a long-term friend of the Limbe Wildlife Centre. She recently raised important funds to support the improvement of the large gorilla enclosure. “I started doing volunteer work after my holidays in Uganda and Rwanda. In these countries, I fell in love with the gorillas and chimpanzees. I volunteered at several sanctuaries and in 2009 it was the first time that I volunteered at Limber Wildlife Centre. I felt very welcome at the centre and the staff was always very helpful and took time to talk about the animals. Since then, I have been in Limbe 11 times. Unfortunately this year it was not possible to go to Cameroon because of Covid-19. From Holland, I do my best to raise some money for the centre and I hope some wishes of the centre can be realized with a little help from me and all the other volunteers who always had a good time at LWC!”
THANK YOU ANNELIES!
- 10 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
Achievements November 2020 & Objectives December 2020 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership & Public Relations Funders
□ None
December 2020 objectives: □ Validate internal rules and regulations (pending) □ Review the proposal of the national strategy to rehabilitate and release the African grey parrots □ Review the re-opening of the Limbe Wildlife Centre to the public at the beginning of 2021
2. Population management & Animal welfare Funders
Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichments in each section (Image 1)
Specific activities □ Transferred adult chimpanzee Jacob from the Mainland to the Special Care and Rehabilitation Section to become the alpha male of females Ngambe and Mayos after Ghaa’s disappearance in August 2020 (Image 2) □ Started the positive reinforcement training for improving welfare during isolation and administering drugs to animals with long illness with minimum stress
- 11 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
â–Ą Vet cares (November 2020): â—Œ 133 Primate individuals treated; 6 anaesthesia performed; 15 individuals sampled (3 blood samples for haematology analysis, 2 blood samples for biochemistry analysis, 15 faecal samples for coprology analysis, 0 pus swabs for microbiology analysis); 1 contraception; 1 identification with a microchip; 2 laceration repair; 23 drug therapies (of which 52% to treat 4 individuals with resistant bacteria abscessation): 43% dietary supplements, 34% antibiotics, 4% painkillers and anti-inflammatories, 4% antiparasitic, 4% fluid therapies, 11% others; 0 health check; 1 death: Putty-nosed monkey: 1 (Osher, adult female; tetanus) (Images 3-4) â—Œ African grey parrots: 13 general health checks; 25 health check before release; 25 transferrals to the soft-release aviary, 0 transferrals to the rehabilitation aviary; 8 individuals received intensive care treatment with 3rd generation antibiotic treatment and special diet; 1 death (Images 5-8)
Image 1. Natural enrichment in the Image 2. Jacob was anaesthetised to be Agile mangabey enclosure stimulates transferred in the Special Care and foraging and playing. Rehabilitation Enclosure for disabled chimps. He was chosen because of his playful and calm temper and will be a good fit with females Mayos and Ngambe.
- 12 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
Image 3. Bite wound repair: adult male drill often challenge each other, and some conflict results in a fight. Although impressive, this bite is not serious and Che, after his wound was stitched, returned in the group.
Image 4. Continued cleaning of abscessation wound in Ntui and Koto, who were transferred to quarantine for special treatment and care.
Image 5. Some African grey parrots have more difficulties than others to recover and need special care. All is done to ensure all rescues have the best chance to return into the wild.
Image 6. Last health check before release. In total, the 3rd flock to be release in 2020 counts 25 individuals. Their body index and feather condition were checked as well as their capacity to fly. They also received deworming and external parasite treatment.
- 13 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
Image 7. After the health check, all the Image 8. Taking a blood sample to birds are transferred to the soft release measure the level of stress of the African aviary grey parrots in the large aviary, before being transferred to the soft release cage. December 2020 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ African grey parrots: Continue to provide special care for the last individuals with difficulties improving their body conditions □ Chimpanzee: Complete introduction of adult male Jacob with disabled females Mayos and Ngambe after Ghaa’s disappearance in August 2020 □ Chimpanzee: Transfer adult males Papa and Nanga from the Island to the Mainland group and start integration process □ Training: Continue the positive reinforcement training for improving welfare during isolation and administering drugs to animals with long illness with minimum stress □ Vet cares: General health checks: African grey parrots (8); Health check before release: African grey parrots (30); Contraception: Drills (3), Olive baboon (2)
- 14 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
3. Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release programme Funders
Arrival & quarantine □ Rescued 1 endangered African grey parrot (Image 9)
Behavioural rehabilitation □ None
Social rehabilitation □ African grey parrot: Continued to maintain the care and enrichment to the 171 African grey parrots in the large aviary □ Drill: Continued integration process of juvenile male Drill Mbigou with adult female Jafita and 3 other females in a satellite cage of the Drill enclosure
Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) □ Transferred the 3rd flock of 25 fully rehabilitated African grey parrots to the softrelease aviary in the Limbe Botanical Garden (Images 10-12)
Image 9. Newly rescued African grey Image 10. Arrival of the flock to the soft parrot was the result of our awareness release site. They will spend a couple of
- 15 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
effort. The owner handled it over to us weeks and then the cage will be open so with a donation to cover his costs. they can choose to go out and come back in for food or shelter.
Images 11 & 12. The African grey parrots immediately climbed up the 3-meter high soft release cage to feel safer. We let them settle down and relax, feed them and started to monitor them several meters away from the cage December 2020 objectives: □ African Grey Parrots: Continue the rehabilitation process of the rescued individuals □ African Grey Parrots: Transfer the 4th flock of 30 individuals to the soft-release site □ Drill: Continue the social integration of juvenile male Mbigou into the Drill group
- 16 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
4. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment Funders
□ Started the urgent renovation of the Western lowland gorilla night dens (Images 1320) □ Maintained the water supply in the Special Care and Rehabilitation Section for disabled chimps (Images 21-22) □ Maintained palm roof of Red-eared monkey Idenau’s and Mona monkey Saker’s group enclosure (Images 23-24) □ Installed mosquito net in the vet clinic (Image 25) □ Purchased a new welding machine (Image 26)
Image 13. Pressure washing of the cage Image 14. View of some damaged area in before maintenance in the gorilla night the gorilla night den. den.
- 17 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
Image 15. View of some damaged Image 16. Cutting out a bad metal pipe area in the gorilla night den. and rod mesh in some affected area of gorilla Benito’s section.
Image 17. Cutting out a bad metal Image 18. Wire brushing of the gorilla night pipe and rod mesh in some affected den. area of gorilla Benito’s section.
Image 19. View of a replaced pipe and Image 20. Crafting new rail for one of the first layer painting in the gorilla night sliding doors of the gorilla night den. den.
- 18 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
Image 21. Breaking top of the mount concrete to remove the broken pressing tap in the Special Care and Rehabilitation Section.
Image 22. View of finish work. The chimps in the Special Care and Rehabilitation Section can send their finger and press the tap without destroying it.
Image 23. Covering the satellite cage Image 24. View of finish roof of Red-eared of Mona monkey Saker’s group with monkey Idenau’s group. Raphia palm mat.
Image 25. Installing a stainless-steel net Image 26. Thanks to generous individual to prevent rat or insects from entering donors, we could purchase a new welding the vet clinic. machine to facilitate our work!
- 19 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
December 2020 objectives: □ Continue the urgent renovation of the Western lowland gorilla night dens □ Start building a bamboo fence around the Drill enclosure
5. Community Conservation, Environmental education & Ecotourism Funders
□ School outreach programme: Started the 2020-2021 programme: 5 schools, 21 classes and 854 schoolchildren; monthly efforts: 39 men.hours □ Saturday Nature Club: Postponed the 2020-2021 Nature Club □ Workshop: Organised a community engagement workshop in Batoke to discuss COVID-19 precautionary measures and about maintaining the support to the community-based green project during the pandemic crisis; attendance: 36 persons (incl. 89% women farmers) (Images 27-28) □ Community-based Green Economy: 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild herbaceous plants: 1,800 kg of Aframomum stems and 485 kg of Costus stems; 32 women members harvesting crop by-product: 684 kg of cassava leaves, 1,996 kg of papaya leaves, 2,510 kg of potato leaves, 333 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to 74 trees hand-cut; 752,235 FCFA (€1,148) paid directly to the local community association this month; 9,628,085 FCFA (€14,699) contributed to alleviate local poverty in 2020 (Image 29) □ Published the 2019-2020 Community-based Green Project report (available here): A total of 94.41 tons of fresh crop by-product leaves (46% papaya, 42% potato, 12% cassava) and 16.99 tons of wild herbaceous plants of the wild ginger family Zingiberaceae (62% of Aframomum sp. and 38% of Costus. sp) were brought to the animals every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday every month. The local community of Batoke generated USD 22,379 of eco-friendly revenues (77% of the total
- 20 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
budget), which represents an increase of 18% compared to last year. The number of active members increased by 6% and reached 167 persons, with a majority of women farmers (77%) (Image 30).
Image 27. Small group meetings were organized to strengthen the engagement of women farmers. Facemasks were also donated to ensure the risk of transmission from person-to-person is minimized and to reexplain the precautionary measures to implement.
Image 28. The project is fully engaged to promote gender and empower women. In Cameroon, most of the day-to-day work is made by women. Associated in women farmers groups, the 83 women organize to sell crop by-products to the LWC three times a week. Hence, they generate more incomes for their household without working extra!
Image 29. Each bag is weighed and Image 30. The last report is available online paid according to a fixed cost to its here. owner. A bag of 80kg of papaya leaves represents a two-days salary.
- 21 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
December 2020 objectives: □ Continue with ongoing programs □ Organise a special Saturday Nature Club for Christmas for the staff children □ Install 4 large billboards and unveil the 4 original artworks made by Toh Bright in Limbe (delayed)
6. Wildlife conservation research & Health monitoring Ongoing activities □ Recovery monitoring of the rescued endangered African grey parrots: Continued to collect data during health checks and through direct observation □ Monitoring the soft-release of endangered African grey parrot: Suspended the collection of daily data on the parrot movement and use of environment until the next release in December 2020 □ Establishing Haematological Reference Values for the endangered Drill: Continued to build the dataset of haematological data extracted from 18 years of analysis (2002-2019), corresponding to 199 samples, and including a total of 21 haematological parameters.
Activity achievement □ None
Data analysis □ None December 2020 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities
- 22 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
7. Capacity building, staff empowerment & Mentorship □ Started to build the capacity of staff members and long-term volunteers to use positive
reinforcement
training
for
improving
welfare
during
isolation
and
administering drugs to animals with long illness with minimum stress (Image 31)
Image 31. AKAWUNG Brenda Achankeng, who started at the Limbe Wildlife Centre early 2020, was taught how to implement positive reinforcement training to create a trustworthy and respectful relationship with the chimps receiving care in the rehabilitation section in the medical complex. December 2020 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities
8. Communication & Visibility □ Digital communication (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter): This month, we hit our Facebook goal for the year - 16,000 followers! A video of Chinoise playing and rolling on the floor has had a great impact on our activity and our reach increased by 280.2% compared to last month. Instagram and Twitter have both shown increasing followers and reach. □ Fundraiser: a T-shirt was produced in the loving memory of Ghaa, to support the remaining disabled great apes at the Limbe Wildlife Centre.
- 23 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
To get one of these great outfits, rush here!! â–Ą Media coverage: o Radio: Natural Disaster at Limbe Zoological Garden, Ocean City Radio, 20th of November 2020 o Newspaper: Safety, Security Of Limbe Zoo Animals Threatened As Wall Collapses, The Post, 16th of November 2020 o Newspaper: Over 200 animals at risk as protective wall of Limbe Zoological Garden collapses, The Guardian, 16th of November 2020
- 24 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
December 2020 objectives: â–Ą Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon
9. Revenues generated â–Ą Entrance fees (November 2020): FCFA 0 (0 visitors; 0% children, 0% Cameroonians) due to the closure of the Limbe Wildlife Centre to visitors 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Adult Nationals
Children Nationals
Jul-20
Adult Foreigners
Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Children Foreigners
Figure 1. Visitor statistics November 2019- November 2020
- 25 -
November 2020
Monthly Report
- 26 -