Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Sanctuary Project Updates and Achievements from Q3 2018 - African Impact

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LANGUAGE LESSON:

“NSHIMA” “Ubwali” in Bemba 17.5 °C

Behaviour Enrichment

Food Preparation

Enclosure Cleaning

Boundary Patrol

Bushwalk

Farming

Educational Activities

Other

Vet Assistance

Infrastructure

Research

Chimp Observations

WHAT’S NEW ON THE GROUND? 1.

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To coincide with the coldest month (July), the orange and lemon harvesting at the Chimfunshi Farm began; providing the chimps with much-needed Vitamin C. 10 researchers joined Chimfunshi, researching our chimpanzees’ behavior.

In September, the 2 new arrivals from the start of 2018 were introduced into their new enclosure, joining 11 chimps in Enclosure 4.

around the Gweru area.

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Volunteers spent nearly 120 hours observing the chimps – feeding, playing, grooming and just being chimps. These observations are important in order to feed back any concerns to the sanctuary’s managers and vets

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We spent 94 hours walking alongside 2 chimpanzees who require additional stimulation, exploring the enclosure together. A further 24 hours were spent patrolling the boundaries of the enclosures to make sure they were safe and secure

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We scrubbed and swept the enclosures for 86 hours to ensure they were clean and ready for the chimps

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Over 75 hours were spent chopping, crating up and unloading fruit and vegetables, as well as rolling nshima balls for the chimps’ ‘two supplementary feeds

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Volunteers spent over 160 hours brain storming and preparing enrichment for 4 special ‘Escape Artists’ chimpanzees, vervet monkeys and African grey parrots. These activities kept the animals engaged for over 37 hours (that we observed!)

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The Escape Artists were challenged with a padlock box, knotted rope tube, toilet roll dispenser puzzle, elastic tube, peanut maze, wired frisbees, stuffed hose, string book, bamboo puzzles, shoe lace board, gravity tower and more. All of this enrichment aims to keep them stimulated and active

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They were also encouraged to show natural behaviors: foraging for food, nest building and challenged to ‘fish’ for items out of reach

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Human items were introduced, including mirrors, glasses, t-shirts, watermelon, books and water balloons to encourage their natural curiosity. Colin continues to play throw and catch, while him and Chiffon enjoy hide and seek. Milla likes to chill with a book, while Cleo…well, she just likes to chill

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The vervet monkeys were challenged with empty toilet rolls and a net sack stuffed with leaves and raisins, boxes within boxes with treats inside, braches and leaves to forage and climb on

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The parrots had cardboard egg carton pieces, strips of paper, screwed up paper balls with nuts inside as they like to destroy/shred things (and to forage), and a bamboo perch to stand/swing on

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Volunteers spent 55 hours at the local school, supporting children in their education

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Conservation Club has been going well with volunteers talking all about chimps on World Chimp Day, 16th July

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We marked World Clean Up Day (15th Sept) with a performance by the volunteers about littering and two litter picks during the week, collecting a whopping 20 bags of rubbish!

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Volunteers continue to enjoy spending time with the kids, painting, playing and sports - tiring in the heat but great fun!

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Volunteers assisted our vet in de-worming the chimps in Enclosure 1 and helped provide pregnancy checks for a groups of cows at the farm.

“This place was beyond everything I ever expected. Every day was something new to do, to see and to experience.”

Ula, Slovenia –July 2018

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Volunteers spent nearly 120 hours at Chimfunshi’s farm, harvesting an incredible 52 sacks of oranges and lemons, climbing the trees to shake the fruit down or hand picking it, to then collect from the ground

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We fertilized approximately 4,500 green pepper seedlings to encourage them to grow and ensure a fruitful harvest for the chimps in the future

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4 sacks of juicy tomatoes were picked for the chimps to enjoy as part of their lunchtime feed

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Volunteers assisted in the weighing of the beef cattle at the farm, as well observing the vet during pregnancy checks of cows

There were many surprises whilst at Chimfunshi; one of them was fixing the bikes. I have learned how to change the tyre, the chain, and the pedal. It was unexpected to learn how to be a bike mechanic whilst I was at Chimfunshi!! I was so happy when the bikes were fixed though as it meant that me and the other volunteers could explore on our day off, or in our free time.

Vincent/Luk Ping – Hong Kong

During my stay at Chimfunshi I really enjoyed the sewing. I learned how to use the, let’s say ‘vintage’ sewing machines. We thought about different things we could make to raise money for the Escape Artists new enclosure. We made so many items including; shopping bags, hair scrunchies, bandanas and purses/wallets. It was great to be a part of the process, from picking the Chitenge (cloth) at the local markets, measuring and cutting out the pieces, sewing it all together and then of course selling the finished product. It’s so lovely to see the work I enjoyed doing benefit the chimps we worked with.”

Caroline – Germany

THE CHIMFUNSHI TEAM ☺