J.A.C.K. Sanctuary

 The last weekend in January we had the privilege to go to the local chimpanzee sanctuary.  It was an amazing experience!  As I was walking through it, I thought to myself, "I have finally found a place to put Ashley's rock here".  I have been struggling on where to leave one because there just aren't that many places here that worth it. But more on that later! I voice recorded the owner, Frank, so I could retell the story he told us...

 J.A.C.K Sanctuary

Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga

Young Animals Confiscated in Katanga

Baby chimpanzees were crossing the border illegally to Zambia on their way to South Africa. Once there they would be shipped to China and Dubai on the black market for pets. People want a baby chimp for a pet. In order to capture the baby, you have to shoot the whole family. Poachers will sell the older family members for bushmeat and sell the younger ones into the illegal pet trade.   Wildlife crime is a global, multi-billion-dollar industry that is wiping out Africa’s great apes and monkeys. JACK wanted to do something to help save the animals. There are 4 sanctuaries for monkeys, and primates in the DRC.  It is not enough.  They are part of PASA Pan African Sanctuary Alliance

Nearly 40% of chimpanzee’s living in Africa are in the DRC and many of the tribes in the bush of the Congo are eating chimpanzee’s which is illegal. Plus, you can get Ebola by eating chimps and gorillas. When poachers are attacking a family of chimps in the wild, they kill the family for the meat and then capture the babies to sell. They can make up to $100,000 off one baby!!!

Mother chimpanzees nurse their babies for 5 years so when they are killed, the babies run the risk of starving to death.  The sanctuary will have to take these baby chimpanzees and the owners keep them at their house to feed them and take care of them.  It is a 24-hour job, just like having a child. 

The picture, L’Histoire de JAK/JACK is this:

Debut 2006, many Chimpanzees in the wild.

6, Avril 2006 – someone called and said a chimpanzee had hitched a ride on the back of a bicycle. Frank, the founder of the sanctuary, jumped in his car and went to get the baby and that is how it started.

25, Avril 2006 – they got their second one, its owner was Chinese and smoked.  When he was done smoking, he would put out his cigarette on the body of the chimp so he had burns all over.

13 Mai 2006 – shows how the sanctuary is growing! At the time, it was in the zoo here in Lubumbashi.  The chimps had to be locked into crates at night so they couldn’t escape….they didn’t have enclosures built yet.

05, Septembre 2006 – the traffickers came and set fire to the place where the 5 chimps were, and 2 chimpanzees died. They were devastated! 

24, Octobre 2006 – They were able to purchase a section of the zoo that had been abandoned and that is how the current sanctuary came to be.  They were able to turn old enclosures for animals into homes for the monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, and other primates that are there today!

 

 

 

We had to wear masks to prevent us spreading germs to the animals and them spreading germs to us!

 

 

 

The gorillas were so LOUD!  The staff was throwing food out to them and they were so excited!

We had to clean off the soles of our shoes before we went into an enclosure to prevent germ transfer!

 

The kitchen where they prepare all of the food!

As we were walking back to our cars, I turned around and some of the gorilla's had climbed up onto the top of these poles!

After we went to the restaurant at the zoo and got pizza!