The Limbe Wildlife Center in Cameroon, Central
Africa, is a small struggling sanctuary. I visited Limbe in 1997 and was
impressed by the animals and by the caring western volunteers and African
staff working round-the-clock to save pathetic victims of the "bushmeat"
trade. Among the wonderful primates I met in 1997 were six baby gorillas,
over 20 chimpanzees and 50+ monkeys of assorted species.
I have some exciting news. A new baby gorilla
recently reached Limbe. Her name is "Pitchou." She arrived with ringworm
patches all over her tiny body. Sadly, her mother was killed and eaten.
Linda Percy, Limbe's volunteer manager, told me Pitchou's sad tale.
On April 14 Pitchou arrived at Limbe. She was
stressed and feverish and had a chest infection. She had diarrhea for over
two weeks and was always grinding her teeth. She had numerous scars
and bald patches from ringworm.
Her story is unfortunately all too familiar.
Her mother was killed by hunters for bushmeat and she was brought to Kribi,
a well-known tourist area, to be sold as a pet. Pitchou sat in a small
wooden crate at a local hotel waiting to be sold.
After three days the owners of the hotel could
not bear to watch her suffer any more, so they gave the hunters $20. Pitchou
stayed with the Osih family for two weeks, living on mango juice. The family
soon realized what an enormous responsibility she was and chose to donate
her to the Limbe Wildlife Center.
Poor little Pitchou spent her first few weeks
at Limbe grinding her teeth, hugging herself and sleeping. Once her health
was stabilized and she became more comfortable with her surroundings, she
greatly reduced the teeth grinding. She loves to play in the tall grass,
be tickled and beat her chest!
Linda, an accountant, maintains careful financial records for Limbe. The project is grossly under-funded, existing on around US $30,000 per year. In 1996 and 1997 IPPL provided half of the project's entire income. Linda told me that everyone at Limbe is "eternally grateful" for IPPL's help. We are very anxious to provide continued assistance on a similar or increased level in 1998.
Limbe has an education program aimed at ending the bushmeat trade that creates primate orphans like Pitchou by teaching children and adults about Cameroon's wonderful wildlife.
So I am asking primate friends to consider making a special gift for the care of Pitchou and all the animals at Limbe. Our promise to you is that every single cent received will be forwarded to the project.
PLEASE SEND THE MOST GENEROUS CHECK YOU CAN AFFORD AND MAKE IT OUT
TO
IPPL FOR PITCHOU. Please mail your check to PO Box 766,
Summerville, SC 29484.
Thank you.
Dr. Shirley McGreal
Chairwoman, IPPL
Meet Shanti, one of IPPL's
Sanctuary Gibbons