Limbe Wildlife Centre

Category: Chimpanzee, Simone de Vries, endangered species | Date: Jun 19 2009 | By: limbewildlifecentre

The famous Dutch football hero Johan Cruyff always says: ‘Elk nadeel heb z’n voordeel’, which could be translated as: ’Each set back have advantage’ (and don’t blame me for the pour grammar). This week we have started the rebuilding of the outside enclosure for the chimpanzees and the new fence is going to be much better then the old one.Between the gorillas and the chimpanzees we will now build a wall instead of an electric fence. And an important construction project like that cannot start unless a libation ceremony is performed. This ceremony has to be performed by a son of the soil, a member of the Bakweri tribe. So yesterday we got together with all the construction workers and Stephen, who is born and bred on the Cameroon Mountain, talked to the forefathers to bless the work and the wall.

A small offer is necessary, so during the ceremony some whiskey was poured on the fundaments of the wall. I had the honour to apply the first bit of cement. With the help of the forefathers we are confident that the wall will be very strong and no animal will ever escape over it.

Best wishes,Simone