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Monthly Report
October 2021
Limbe Wildlife Centre: October 2021 Cover page: Women are a driving force of the green project and increase their financial autonomy by providing high quality food to the LWC. Published in November 2021 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 February which regulates all forestry, wildlife, and fisheries activities
peggy@limbewildlife.org limbewildlifecentre
+237 698 87 7002 limbewildlife
ALL OUR REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE
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limbewildlife.org limbewildlife
Monthly Report
October 2021
Accreditations & Awards
In December 2018, the Limbe Wildlife Centre 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 that demonstrate exceptional commitment to securing a future for Africa’s primates and their habitat and implement the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation practices. 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 have 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.
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Content
ACCREDITATIONS & AWARDS FOREWORD OUR PRIORITY FINANCIAL NEEDS OCTOBER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS LWC’s SPECIAL SUPPORTER
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ACHIEVEMENTS OCTOBER 2021 & OBJECTIVES NOVEMBER 2021 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
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Foreword
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | PROJECT MANAGER Consolidating our three pillars
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Art4Nature programme real. Our collaboration with young talented artist Toh Bright was a great success and surely this would make the largest impact our organisation ever had. Thank you to all the team members for their commitment to this project. We wish this series to be the first of many, serving as a pilot for a larger programme inclusive of traditional and scientific ecological knowledge, picturing and addressing the drivers of biodiversity and climate crises, and mainstreaming youth and gender as a force to make the much-needed change: do not harm, act with integrity and take responsibility. We indeed need to stand for this great looking-good but poorly implemented
This months’ focus was on the second and third pillars of the mission of the Limbe Wildlife Centre and Pandrillus in Cameroon: education and community sustainable livelihoods. We achieved a milestone by completing the production of the series of 5 short videos supported by UNESCO to promote forest protection in Central Africa. That is a major step for Pandrillus Cameroon to become a leading organisation in Cameroon. Creativity, passion, and countless hours of work were the ingredients to make this first major project embodied into the
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Monthly Report
October 2021
ethics. You and us, together, we cannot wait for this change to occur on its own; we need to take action, we must go beyond and stand for basic principles of living together and make our project a model, no matter how modest and small-scale it is: we need passion, management skills, creativity, and funds, in this order, to make a change. We hope that through our videos, and associated 5 posters, 5 podcasts, and 5 billboards, we will contribute a little more to question people and stimulate thoughts in Central African youth and abroad.
share ideas and develop goals, and consulting the community members to assess the basics needs required to help families find financial stability. The Limbe Wildlife Centre is fully engaged to help alleviate poverty to reduce dependence on illegally harvested wildlife products. We value biodiversity in all its forms, not only primates, not only Drills, Chimpanzees and Gorillas, our three historically emblematic species, or the African grey parrots, our flagship species for conservation. As engaged conservationists, we wish to promote the beauty, fragility, and resilience of nature to the public. We are grateful to a volunteer ornithologist, who has worked in several African countries, for her contribution in updating and completing our bird inventory and guide: no less than 62 species are present in and around the Limbe Wildlife Centre! That makes it one of the last standing natural parks in Limbe and in urban Cameroon that serves as a refuge island for biodiversity, along with the Botanical Garden. The LWC must be preserved because of that but also to play its critical role in raising awareness and engaging people. To finish on the education purpose, our school programme finally resumed with 1800 children taught each week in 31 classes of 9 schools.
In addition, to join forces locally, the LWC and African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO) have come together to conduct joined education programme and activities in Limbe to help change people’s attitude towards nature, being marine or terrestrial. The amazing natural richness in Cameroon and especially in the Cross Sanaga Region is not valued by people, as they feel disconnected from it, and are often considered a sign of poverty or under development. This must change in the mind of people. Africa must realise its path and rely on its human, social, creative, and emotional strengths to develop a virtuous system respectful of people and nature. To instigate a change, locally, at a small or medium scale, we support and empower women farmers and ex-hunters to generate sustainable incomes by providing healthy food benefiting our animals. This month, we organised a workshop in Batoke, bringing 70 people together (65% of women) to
Besides, our first pillar, ie, ensuring the welfare of all our individuals, remains solid and our top priority. Even though we lost one of our iconic individuals from the baboon group, Bonjour Bonsoir, to a heart -6-
Monthly Report
October 2021
attack, we manage to save a baby mandrill this month (but without any evidence that a proper arrest was made, which is a shame), we have made great strides with the separation of the gorilla enclosure, which will eventually allow our gorillas to go out more often. The only long-term solution will be to transfer some of our groups into a semi-free enclosure in the wild. Due to the huge investment required and commitment of the government to support and sponsor such projects, at the moment, we work to use the space available the best possible and combine behavioural approaches to detect and mitigate stress and take decisions to ensure the best environment for each animal.
Suzanne (old chimps), who is having difficulties coping with the Island group due to her age will integrate her new group, which is composed of Ngambe (socially disabled) and Mayos (blind). Taking these individual characteristics into consideration is pivotal to tailor the best environment to each individual and never let them in a situation where living in an environment is detrimental to their wellbeing. Finally, we are glad that this will be possible thanks to the fund we successfully raised through Giving Day for Apes. We reached our goals of 10,000 USD, even exceeding it a little bit. That is thanks to you! You are making all we envision possible and we are very thankful for your renewed trust and support.
That is in this context that we have made great improvement taking care of certain animals that cope with more difficulty with captivity. Captivity is affecting individuals differently, depending on their age, sex, history but also cognitive capacities. This is the reason why we have been creating a chimp section for disabled individuals, physically or mentally. Being in a smaller group with less pressure from the dominant, enable them to find the peace they need to thrive in captivity, under observation, and with all the care we, as professionals, are entitled to give them.
This month bodes well as a very successful and rich end of the year and boosts our morale to prepare for Christmas in the best circumstances. We wish for you all to stay healthy, warm, and safe. Thank you all, as ever, for your unfailing support.
Stay safe and healthy! Peggy Motsch Project Manager
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Our priority financial needs 1. Help us protect our rescued animals during COVID-19! 120000
COVID-19 updates in Cameroon The number of confirmed cases reaching more than 102,000, with a marked increase in number of new cases detected throughout September (Monthly increase: +11%). The virus still circulates in the community and caution must be maintained
100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0
DONATE NOW TO PROTECT THEM FROM COVID-19! We must continue to boost the immunity of 14 critically endangered gorillas, 41 endangered chimps, and 65 endangered Drills and maintain biosecurity measures vs. COVID-19.
2. Construct new enclosures for our Guenons and Mangabeys! Our Mona monkey and Red-capped Mangabeys have reached maximum capacity, therefore they need more space, to increase group cohesion and individual well-being. Goal: €11,000
INCREASE THEIR LIVING SPACE NOW! 3. Post release monitoring for the African greys parrots! Design, test, and validate a post-release monitoring method using GPS tags and start studying released birds’ habitat and space use. Goal: €10,000
INCREASE CONSERVATION EFFORTS!
Contact info@limbewildlife.org to know more
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Monthly Report
October 2021
October 2021 Highlights
□ Rescued one baby male mandrill □ Finished the maintenance of Putty nosed monkey enclosure □ Started the 2021-2022 school outreach programme □ Finished to produce the 5 animated videos for Art4Nature □ Organised a community engagement workshop in Batoke Community □ 3 days of Workshop about Marine wildlife by African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO) □ Designated the 4 best and motivated workers of the Limbe Wildlife Centre for the third quarter 2021 □ Giving Day for Apes 2021: Raised $10,782 from a total of 99 donors -9-
Monthly Report
October 2021
“I clearly remember the conversation: We were first-time volunteers at the Limbe Wildlife Centre at the end of 2008 beginning of 2009. The experience we were having had such a wonderful impact on us that we shared inspired thoughts and dreams of “what’s next” and “how can I do more”. For Liesbeth VAN DER BURGT, it meant creating Stichting Weesaapjes, although the name was not chosen yet. We stayed in touch, communicating monthly if we could. She detailed projects that she was working on, for the animals she so dearly loved at LWC, and the progress she was making. One time she recounted frustration with the grassroots fundraising effort – a grocery store near her home in the Netherlands. It was difficult for her to come to terms with the few people who didn’t share the same empathy, kindness, or connection that she shared with the animals. Yet, she persevered, other like-minded people stepped in to help and her foundation started to grow. More than once, Liesbeth and I talked about the patience sometimes needed to complete projects. I reminded her that - unforeseeable obstacles happen, that we, from the “Western world”, are not accustomed to. Liesbeth pressed on with urgency. Looking back now, I see that time as the urgency of someone who was running out of time. She put all her time and effort into caring for the animals. She passed away in August 2016. I am grateful to Limbe Wildlife Centre for adding this commemoration plaque for Liesbeth and Stichting Weesaapjes near the bridge and Savanah-dwelling guenon enclosure, the last two projects were completed with help from the donors of Liesbeth’s foundation”. By Tricia Gillet, friend of Liesbeth
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Achievements October 2021 & Objectives November 2021 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership & Public Relations Funders □ None
Specific activities □ Meeting with AMMCO to conduct joined education programme and activities in Limbe to help change people’s attitude towards nature, being marine or terrestrial (Image 1)
Image 1. Team of LWC and AMMCO in meeting to prepare new campaign about Wildlife Marine in Downbeach and Batoke. November 2021 objectives □ Review the proposal of the national strategy to rehabilitate and release the African grey parrots (pending)
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Monthly Report
October 2021
2. Population management & Animal welfare Funders
Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichments in each section
Specific activities □ Western Lowland Gorilla: Continued physiotherapy with Twiggs (Adult female) focusing on her disabled right arm □ Guenon/Mangabey: Continued the introduction of Sarah (Red-capped mangabey) & Aggie (Red-eared monkey) □ Chimpanzees: Moved old female chimpanzees, Suzanne, to Special care and rehabilitation enclosure □ Vet cares (October 2021): o Boosting primate immune systems during Covid-19: providing on daily basis vitamins, plants infusion, extra protein, and other nutritional enrichment to all primates o Primates: 185 individuals treated; 4 anaesthesia performed; 42 individuals sampled (4 blood samples for haematology analysis, 2 blood samples for biochemistry analysis, 18 faecal samples for coprology analysis, 0 urine analysis; 0 Tracheal swab for microbiology analysis); 0 X-ray; 0 ultrasound; 6 contraception; 0 identification with a microchip; 1 laceration repairs; 21 drug therapies: 48% dietary supplements, 29% antibiotics, 20% anti-inflammatories, 5% antiparasitic; 1 death: Bonjour Bonsoir (male adult baboon, heart attack) (Images 2-3) o African grey parrots: 0 general health checks; 0 health checks before release; 0 transferrals to the soft-release aviary, 0 transferrals to the
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Monthly Report
October 2021
rehabilitation aviary; 7 individuals received extra care and nutritional supplement to boost feather regrowth; 4 euthanasia due to very bad conditions
Image 2. Manoh, a female Drill, received Image 3. Noon, a young male Tantalus, her contraception implant. has his second health check. November 2021 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ African grey parrots: Continue to provide special care for the last individuals with difficulties improving their body conditions □ Vet cares: Contraception: Drills (3); Mona (1)
3. Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release programme Funders
Arrival & quarantine □ Mandrill (Mandrillus Sphinx): 1 baby male rescued
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Behavioural rehabilitation □ Mandrill: Started behavioral rehabilitation (Images 4-5) □ Preuss Monkey: Continued behavioral rehabilitation □ Genet: Continued behavioral rehabilitation Social rehabilitation □ African grey parrot: Continued to maintain the care and enrichment of the 43 African grey parrots in the large aviary □ Tantalus monkey: Started the introduction process of the young male, Noon, in the Tantalus enclosure Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) □ None
Image 4. A baby male Mandrill arrived at the LWC. Around 1.5 months old, he started his rehabilitation process with trained keeper Alvin MUMA (in the picture) & Killi MATUTE (Head of Quarantine)
Image 5. After less than 3 weeks the baby male mandrill already gained weight thanks to the good diet he is provided with including milk, fruits, and vegetables. His fur colour also started to change, but the colour of his face will still remain pink for a few weeks more
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Monthly Report
October 2021
November 2021 objectives: □ Continue the ongoing rehabilitation activities □ Preuss Monkey: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process □ Mandrill: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process □ Tantalus monkey: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process □ Genet: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process
4. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment Funders
Activities □ Western Lowland Gorillas: Started the splitting of the enclosure: first enclosure finished (Images 6-18) and second enclosure started (Images 6-19) □ Putty-nosed monkey: Finished the maintenance of Zulu’s group (Images 20-21)
Image 6. Digging of pillar hole and Image 7. Installing and concreting of foundation for the splitting of the gorilla’s metal pillar for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. enclosure.
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Image 8. Welding rod beam to the pillar for Image 9. Setting wood box for concreting the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure.
Image 10. Concreting of the foundation for Image 11. Wooden poles installation for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure.
Image 12. Preparation for the keeper safety Image 13. Keeper door crafting and cage for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. installation for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure.
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Monthly Report
October 2021
Image 14. View of concrete foundation and Image 15. Installing of electric fence wire insulator poles setup for the splitting of the for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. gorilla’s enclosure.
Image 16. Tensioning of the electric fence Image 17. Final view of keeper door and wire for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure. second layer painting. for the splitting of the gorilla’s enclosure.
Image 18. Final view of the first separation Image 19. Installing and concreting of fence for the splitting of the gorilla’s metal pillar for the second gorilla’s enclosure. enclosure.
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Monthly Report
Image 20. enrichment enclosure.
October 2021
Cutting of bamboo for the Image 21. Final view of visual barrier in of Putty-nosed monkey the Putty-nosed monkey enclosure.
November 2021 objectives □ Finish Mantum’s group maintenance (postponed) □ Finish the Gorilla’s splitting enclosure
5. Community Conservation, Environmental education & Ecotourism Funders
Activities □ School outreach programme: Started the 2021-2022 programme: 9 schools, 31 classes, and 1800 school children; monthly efforts: 36 men.hours □ Saturday Nature Club: Postponed until 2022 □ Art4Nature: Completed the 5 animated videos (Image 22) □ Art4Nature: Continued to produce billboards, posters, and radio podcasts to promote forest ecosystem preservation. □ Green project: Organised a community engagement workshop in Batoke to discuss the situation on the ground, the difficulties community members are facing (COVID-
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Monthly Report
October 2021
19 panemic), and maintaining the support to the community-based green project during the pandemic crisis; attendance: 70 persons (incl. 65% women farmers and 23% children from the community) (next page) □ Green project: 52 community members benefited from the Community-based Green Economy; 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild herbaceous plants: 733 kg of Aframomum stems and 657 kg of Costus stems; 37 women members harvesting crop by-product: 678 kg of cassava leaves, 4225 kg of papaya leaves, 2075 kg of potato leaves, 309 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to 69 trees hand-cut; 911,495 FCFA (€1,392) paid directly to the local community association this month; 9,964,155 FCFA (€15,212) contributed to alleviate local poverty in 2021.
Image 22. Series of images extracted from the 5 videos of the Art4Nature project sponsored by the UNESCO. 4 countries of Central Africa (Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic) are represented among 5 topics: Wealth of the Congo Basin Forest, Deforestation, Illegal Pet Trade, Zoonosis, and Youth are the Future. November 2021 objectives □ Continue with ongoing programs
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October 2021
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Monthly Report
October 2021
6. Wildlife conservation research & Health monitoring Funders □ None
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: Continued the collection of daily data on the parrot movement and use of the environment □ Establishing Haematological Reference Values for the endangered Drill: Continued to build the dataset of haematological data extracted from 18 years of analysis (20022019), corresponding to 199 samples, and including a total of 21 haematological parameters.
Achieved activities □ None
November 2021 objectives □ Continue with the above ongoing activities
7. Capacity building, staff empowerment & Mentorship □ Continue the training of the new physiotherapist working with one of our female adult gorillas □ Mentorship: Our Vet team provided emergency care to a young rescue Chimpanzee in Papaye France, Littoral region; and our Head of construction helped Papaye France to finalize the new nursery construction project (Image 23)
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□ Staff workshop: Organised 3 days workshop on marine wildlife in partnership with the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO) (Image 24) □ Designated the 4 best and motivated workers of the Limbe Wildlife Centre for the third quarter of 2021 (Image 25) Q3 2021 Queen Taku, Animal Keeper
Motivated
Jonathan KANG, Head Keeper
1st
Andreas MBONG, Animal Keeper
2nd
Adela LOAM, Sanitation Worker
3rd
Image 23. Dr. John KIYANG and Tana OSSOMBA performed a health check of a chimpanzee that has just been rescued at the papaya sanctuary
Image 24. Cedrick FOGWAN, Marine Ecosystems Manager came to the LWC for 3 days to talk about marine wildlife and raise awareness among staff.
Image 25. Best workers for the third quarter 2021. From left to right: Peggy Motsch (Project Manager on behalf of Andrea Mbong), Queen Taku, Adela Loam, Jonathan Kang, and Jessica Willemse (Fundraiser officer)
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Monthly Report
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November 2021 objectives □ Continue with the above ongoing activities □ Staff workshop: Presentation of the project to splitting gorilla enclosure by Vallarine Aforlica, Head of Construction (postponed)
8. Communication & Visibility □ Digital communication (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter): This month, our Twitter account has done very well, having an increased reach of 10.1%, being 85,893 people, while our Facebook channel reached 908,264 people! 996,671 people were thus informed about our efforts to further conservation while being educated on how to help protect wildlife. Furthermore, our Twitter followers increased by 2.6% adding to our overall of 43,953 followers across our four channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. □ Giving Day for Apes 2021: Launched our campaign and raised $10,782 from a total of 99 donors. These funds will go towards building new enrichment structures, hammocks, swimming pools and more, to continuously increase their wellbeing. A big thank you to everyone who supported us on the day, your donations will greatly help our apes. □ “Off The Fence”, specialist wildlife and factual TV Production Company from England, filmed the LWC as part of the Africa From Above series, and highlighted the wonderful, diverse people, places, and wildlife of Africa. The series will be broadcast on German television network ZDF. Their focus upon their visit to the LWC was on our conservation efforts to save wildlife, particularly focusing on work with the papios, a never-ending story.
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Monthly Report
October 2021
November 2021 objectives: □ Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon
9. Revenues generated □ Entrance fees (October 2021): FCFA 0 (0 visitors; 0 % children, 0 % Cameroonians) due to the closure of the Limbe Wildlife Centre to visitors 4000 3500 3000 2500
2000 1500 1000 500 0 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Adult Nationals
Children Nationals
Adult Foreigners
Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Children Foreigners
Figure 1. Visitor statistics Oct 2020 - Oct 2021
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Monthly Report
October 2021
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