by Nyango, through Linda Percy, Limbe Wildlife Centre
This is Nyango’s first article. She is a 7 year old gorilla, brought to Limbe Wildlife Centre five years ago. Nyango is the matriarch of Limbe and we thought it was time she gave you an update on our progress from her unique perspective.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Nyango and I belong to the species known as "Gorilla Gorilla." Most people here think my job is to clap my hands, entertain them, escape on a regular basis and make myself sick on two kilos of instant milk powder.
But that is my day job. I’m actually the chairwoman of the Limbe Primate Union. We meet in the evenings when it is quiet and all the human primates leave us alone. I felt it was time that I sent my impressions of the recent events at Limbe Wildlife Centre.
It has been an interesting year so far, having started with the usual holiday crowd of two thousand children running around causing havoc! Once the festive season was finished, it was back to business.
The construction team (this is what our caregivers like to call themselves sometimes) started to prepare for the up and coming rains by extending and building new roofs. Our roof was extended to provide us with a large covered play area during the rains or on those hot sunny days. We think this is a great improvement to our home!
It also gave me many new ways to escape and kept Linda's partner Chris very frustrated, adding new wires and trying to out-think a smart old gorilla like me! Silly boy! Roofs were also put on enclosures in our quarantine area.
Attempts were made to repair the roofs of the infant and juvenile chimp enclosures, but my friends the chimps, being such ruffians, kept the staff busy by creating new holes for the next day.
The other construction work this year was a new climbing structure that is large enough for all the gorillas to play on at the same time. The top of the structure is quite high - and perfect for my throne. I can oversee all the activities at the Centre!
A few of our Drill members have changed locations. Tom, who I thought was a confirmed bachelor, has new roommates. He has moved in with another male drill, a mature female and a baby. The latest gossip is that Tom is courting the female, Devil Woman. Boys will be boys!
Sengo and Nicolina moved in with the juvenile drills after their time in quarantine. Sengo is only 8 months old and she is enjoying all the attention from the older females.
Why does everyone love babies so much? I have to put up with that in my home too. All the younger gorillas try to steal the attention from me!
We have received a few new members this year. Jawaya, a Preuss' guenon (her species' scientific name is Cercopithecus Preussi), arrived with a broken right arm and large open wounds on her left arm, most likely from snares. She recovered quickly and is finishing up her time in quarantine. She sings a beautiful song, and I am told is quite attractive (for a monkey).
A new member I am looking forward to playing with soon is "Pitchou." She is an eighteen month old gorilla. I think she needs a new hairdresser, as she has bare spots all over her (the staff mentioned something about ringworm). She seems to like her new home so far, as she likes to giggle and play.
A few of the human primates have come and gone so far this year. Chris and Linda arrived in late December. Chris is the man I love to frustrate by escaping from the electric fence!
In January one of the best things happened, this man they called "Darren" left us. They call him a "veterinarian!" Volunteers and staff seemed very sad to see him go, but NOT my fellow union members. We had hoped there would be no more needles, pokes, prods and stool samples. Unfortunately the volunteers seem to continue this practice. UGH!!
In late March and early April, my friends Mica and Patti, who have been volunteers here for over a year, decided it was time for them to go to their homelands. I miss nibbling on Patti’s legs and giving her these pretty green and blue marks.
Mica was Jumbo’s mom and she taught her this special dance. Jumbo still likes dancing all day long. In April, Jonathan Kang, one of our gorilla keepers, left to go to England for three months' training at Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. He will be back soon with lots of new ideas.
Unfortunately our fellow primates are still brought to the Centre for sale. We continually tell people that we do not buy animals, as it will only encourage further hunting.
In the last four months we have had over 750 children visit with various school groups. I am optimistic that future generations are learning more about conservation through their visits to the Centre and our Saturday afternoon Nature Club.
Before the schoolchildren start their tours, we ask how many have visited Limbe Centre before. At least half of the children raise their hands. When asked who they remember, most say my name, "Nyango"! I have high hopes that the leaders of tomorrow are becoming more and more sensitized to the need for conservation.
That is about all the news so far in 1998. I want to thank IPPL for all their support. By sending this thing called "MONEY", you have helped us obtain a new home, good food and caring keepers. We ask that you continue your kind support as my fellow primates, the Drills and Chimps, really need a new home!
A "P.S." from Linda
You’ve heard all the news from Nyango, and now it is the human primates' turn to add a few words!
The mission of the Limbe Wildlife Centre is to help secure the long-term survival of endangered and threatened species by focusing on conservation education and promoting awareness and appreciation for Cameroon’s unique wildlife.
The Centre has seen vast improvements that IPPL members have supported and read about over the years. Our name and focus have changed over the years. The project started as an effort to rehabilitate the old Limbe Zoo. The next step was to change over to become a rescue center for orphans who are by-products of the bushmeat trade.
In evaluating the best use of the Centre for its future impact on conservation issues, we determined that we should focus on becoming an education centre. We acknowledge that we are not going to change local culture or completely stop the bushmeat trade overnight.
However, increasing attendance at the centre, numerous school group visits, many for the second and third time, encourage us to hope that we are sensitizing the people of Cameroon, especially the leaders of tomorrow.
Financial restrictions have stopped us from putting in place the outreach and educational programs that are required. However we continue to reach the surrounding community in a number of ways.
The message that we give to the public comes from a number of sources: dedicated local staff and volunteers, the pride in beautifying the grounds, and most importantly, improving the care and housing of the animals. We have trained the staff in providing educational and informative tours.
Our staff have also spent numerous back-breaking hours enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the Centre. With Mount Cameroon as a backdrop, it truly is a beautiful place. Half of our animals are now housed in adequate enclosures, but we still have a long way to go.
The animals who have benefitted from new electrified enclosures have become our visitors' favorites.
The large natural surroundings enhance play and natural social behavior.
One visitor commented after standing observing the gorillas for 30 minutes:
I can never chop (eat) a gorilla again, they are too much like us!
The seed has been planted!
With every step forward, we see how far we still have to go. Our main goal for 1998 is to house ALL of our animals properly.
More specifically, we plan to group all our drills into one electrified enclosure and build a new indoor/outdoor enclosure for the juvenile and adult chimpanzees.
Both of these enclosures will allow us to integrate our entire populations and prepare them for release into a protected area -- which is our long-term goal for them all.
We cannot thank IPPL enough for their constant moral and financial
support. Without this help, the project would not continue.
Meet Igor, one of IPPL's
Sanctuary Gibbons