lwc april 2013

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Limbe Wildlife Centre – December 2012

For more information, or to “adopt” an animal to help support L.W.C., please contact us at info@limbewildlife.org!

Currently the parrots are in the stabilization period, and we have made special housing for them in our quarantine facility.

 

Within the next few days, all of the parrots will undergo health checks.

Jeanevie upon arrival at L.W.C.

Jeanevie’s introduction to the infant guenon group went extremely well. Although she appeared to be unsure at first, she quickly allowed the other guenons to inspect and groom her. Jeanevie can usually be seen with Bakumba, a Putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) and Bomoko, a red-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis).

Once Jeanevie is old enough, and no longer needs milk, she will join the resident mona monkey group.

L.W.C. November Newsletter

We thank you for your continued support!

For more information, please contact us at info@limbewildlife.org.

Last year, the owners tried to give Amigo vaccinations, and he attacked them. At this point, they decided that he was too aggressive to handle, and contacted authorities. The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MiNFOF), along with the Last Great Ape organization (LAGA), confiscated Amigo and contacted us. Dr. John went to the village and brought Amigo back to L.W.C., at which point he underwent his first health check. It was clear that Amigo was emaciated – he weighed only 17kg, whereas a male of his age should weigh between 25 and 30kg. When we fed him for the first time, he ate ravenously, first eating the peels of the banana, and then discovering the fruit inside.

Amigo is now in his quarantine period, during which he will undergo 2 more health checks to ensure his health and well-being. His space in quarantine is approximately 6 times wider and 3 times taller than the cage he spent 9 years in, and is filled with branches and ropes. Amigo has been spending a lot of his time in the branches, and is especially alert around feeding time, looking to see what new food he will receive. After his quarantine period, Amigo will be with members of his own species for the first time since his capture from the wild at 3 months old.

Amigo appears to be very relaxed in this new environment, and we look forward to seeing his continued improvement.

Last week, our school outreach program began again! This year, our education team travels to 10 schools each week, and over 1,000 students are participating.  Lessons for the schools focus on primates, the environment, sustainable development, and man’s impact on nature.

Last week, students took a pre-exam

During the first week of school outreach, students are given a pre-exam that tests their current conservation and environmental knowledge. At the end of the school year, students are given a post-exam, allowing us to see any improvements that have been made and also allowing us to determine any changes that need to be made to our school outreach curriculum.

The students are very enthusiastic about conservation!

Our Saturday Nature Club also began last weekend. Over 200 local children participate every year, and activities include tours around the sanctuary, dramatic performances, field trips, and rallies.

We are looking forward to another exciting year of school outreach, guided tours, and the Nature Club! Conservation education is an extremely important aspect of Limbe Wildlife Centre, and we thank Columbus Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, and Givskud Zoo for their continued support of our programs.

LWC October ’12 Newsletter

To help support our reintroduction efforts, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/11gaak

For more information, contact as at: info@limbewildlife.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Small-spotted genets are found throughout Africa, and are a solitary species. They have spotted bodies and a long black and white ringed tail, as well as retractable claws. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals and insects, including bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, millipedes, and centipedes.

This morning, the 3rd of October, a man brought in a dwarf crocodile that he found on his farm. He kept the crocodile for 2 days before bringing it in, and had tied the mouth shut with wire and the feet behind the crocodile’s back with rope.

The crocodile was examined by our vet team, and the ropes and wire were removed. His legs were quite stiff from being tied behind his back for 2 days, and he is not able to move them well. We have placed him on painkillers and are currently observing him in quarantine to make sure that his movement improves.

As soon as we are sure that he is healthy, the dwarf crocodile will be released into the wild.

The new fence for Arno’s group.

This space will be used to create a 3rd satellite in the smaller gorilla enclosure.

We are also in the process of building new climbing structures on the island chimpanzee enclosure, thanks to support from Born Free Foundation and Stichting Weesaapjes. So far, two structures have been built, and construction on more continues. The chimpanzees love the new climbing structures so far, and the juveniles particularly enjoy swinging from the ropes!

The posts for the new climbing structures,  from sustainable Eucalyptus grown in Bamenda, are very heavy and took many LWC staff members to unload.

LWC staff members building a chimp climbing structure.

The chimpanzees are enjoying the new climbing structures!

Juvenile chimpanzees, like Koto, are particularly enjoying the new ropes!

Our nursery chimpanzee group grew to 5 individuals early in 2012, leaving us in desperate need of a larger satellite enclosure. Construction on the new enclosure has just begun, and the new space will be much, much larger. This will allow the infants to be much more comfortable, and will ensure that we have space for any new arrivals. The old satellite will be used as an additional quarantine cage – also needed, as quarantine houses new arrivals, as well as individuals in hospitalization.

Construction has begun on the new nursery chimpanzee satellite.

Billy arrived in early 2012, and was the 5th chimpanzee to join the nursery group.

In the mandrill enclosure, new climbing structures were built. The mandrills seemed to enjoy watching the construction, and couldn’t wait to try out the new structures! Repairs were also made to the mandrill satellite. Satellites are very important, as they provide shelter during rainy season, allow animals to be separated for observation, and provide space for healing individuals after hospitalization.

Micky Robinson on one of the new mandrill climbing structures.

There are many projects underway as we work to give all of the animals at LWC the best possible quality of life!