Limbe Wildlife Centre: January 2018

Limbe Wildlife Centre A wildlife conservat ion and rehabilitation centre

A collaborative effort between the Pandrillus Foundation & the Republic of Cameroon

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Report: January 18 Limbe Wildlife Centre

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Guillaume LE FLOHIC Pandrillus Manager: Limbe Wildlife Centre

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Content

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FOREWORD

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JANUARY 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

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ACHIEVEMENTS JANUARY 2018 & OBJECTIVES FEBRUARY 20182017

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1. LWC-RoC Partnership

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2. Basic documents

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3. Administration, Human Resources & Finance

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4. Infrastructures and development

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5. Material & Equipment

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6. Capacity building

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7. Conservation and Environmental Education

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8. Constituency for conservation

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9. Conservation ecotourism

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10. Management of animal population and well-being

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11. Rehabilitation and release programme

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12. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules

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13. Communication & Visibility

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14. Revenues generated

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LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Foreword Dear Friends, dear Supporters, What a busy first month of 2018!

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While our education programmes, construction projects and social rehabilitations were going on smoothly, our team travelled all across Cameroon, from West to East and back, to rescue a infant male Western lowland gorilla. We congratulate the MINFOF Delegations representatives, in Batouri and Bertoua as well as central services in Yaounde for their prompt reaction to seize and place the gorilla under our care. It has been decided that he will go through quarantine procedures and undergo the first step of his behavioural rehabilitation at the Limbe Wildlife Centre. As our gorilla population already reached the maximum capacity, he will then be transferred to another PASA sanctuary, Ape Action Africa, where he will be introduced in a forested enclosure and receive life-time care.

At the moment, our quarantine team is spending lot of time with the infant gorilla to increase his wellbeing and stimulate natural behaviours. For the first days, the caretakers remained available to him and gave him the time he needed to initiate interactions. He was in good body conditions and it is fortunate that all actors contributed to secure rapidly his life.

The poaching of wildlife, including of Great Apes, in the Eastern region is dramatic and almost totally uncontrolled. Baby gorillas in particular are extremely vulnerable and often do not survive more than few days or weeks in villages.

It had been more than ten years we did not rescue a gorilla. As for drills, we hope that in the future years we can transfer them to large forested enclosures in or near protected areas.

Similarly, we can only highlight the success of the operation coordinated at high level with the support of many actors, to finally transfer two female chimpanzees, Utah and Mungo, to the third PASA sanctuary, Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, after they successfully underwent quarantine procedures and first steps of socio-ecological rehabilitation. We are happy that all services on the way ensured that the transport went just fine. Utah and Mungo are in good hands, and that is the most important. A new life will start for them, and the 17 years they spend in a 2m2 cage are definitely behind them. Good luck to you there!

On behalf of every staff and animals of the LWC, I wish you an happy new year and Thank you for your unfailing support, With all best wishes, Limbe, 31 January 2018

Guillaume LE FLOHIC LWC Manager, Pandrillus Foundation

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

January 2018 highlights □ Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center-Pandrillus-MINFOF joint operation to transfer Utah & Mungo from LWC quarantine facilities to Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in the Mbargue Forest, Central Region □ Pandrillus-MINFOF joint field operation to seize 1 infant male western lowland gorilla in Batouri, Eastern Region □ Individual performance review letter were transmitted to all staff members □ Started behavioural rehabilitation of the infant male Western lowland gorilla

Achievements January 2018 & Objectives February 2018 1. LWC-RoC Partnership □ Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center-Pandrillus-MINFOF joint operation to transfer Utah &

Mungo (two adult female chimpanzees rescued in June 2017) from LWC quarantine facilities to Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in the Mbargue Forest, Central Region (Images 1-2) □ Pandrillus-MINFOF joint field operation to seize 1 infant male western lowland gorilla in Batouri, Eastern Region (Images 3-4)

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Image 1. Utah and Mungo were sedated in the evening to travel over night, when the traffic is moving freely and the outside temperature not high

Image 2. After a long trip from west to east, Utah and Mungo would arrive safely the same day in Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, where they will be provided life-time care!

LWC Monthly Report

Image 3. Our veterinary technician travelled west to east and back to secure the survival of the gorilla. As the operation was conducted promptly, he was still in good conitdions.

January 18

Image 4. The gorilla was transported in a truck kindly provided by the MINFOF Regional Delegation of SouthWest. Once again, the good collaboration between all MINFOF services was the key for the success of this operation.

February 2018 objectives: □ None

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2. Basic documents □ None

February 2018 objectives: □ Review internal rules and regulations □ Publish the 2017 annual report

3. Administration, Human Resources & Finance □ Transmitted individual performance review letters summarizing 2017 and guiding 2018 to all LWC's staff members: 21 increases of wages, 17 additional annual bonuses for good performance and 4 sanctions given

February 2018 objectives: □ None

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

4. Infrastructures and development □ Achieved the construction of the satellite cages and surrounding poles of the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure (Image 5) □ Started to build the water supply system for the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure and satellite cages (Image 6) □ Build the foundations of the Drill tree in the Drill enclosure and savannah-dwelling enclosure (Images 7-9) □ Achieved with the crafting of the parts of the Drill metal tree (Image 10-12) □ Build 2 scaffolds for the Drill tree and savannah-dwelling enclosure (Image 13) □ Started the mounting of the tree in the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure for controlling the structure (Image 14)

7 Image 5. Large view of the new savannah-dwelling enclosure with the satellite cages finished and all poles of the perimeter fence positioned

Image 6. Digging to set the water supply system and setting of the pipes to supply water in the satellite cages of the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure

Image 7. End of the concreting of the Drill tree foundation in the savannah dwelling guenon enclosure.

This foundation will later be re-used for structural enrichments.

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Image 8. Digging of the foundation hole for the Drill tree in the Drill enclosure.

Image 9. End of the concreting of the Drill tree foundation in the Drill enclosure. A wooden box will be build to prevent Drill to damage the concrete until its gets fully dried.

Image 10. Welding of the service ladder steps on the Drill tree. They will be used to safely climb the structure and perform maintenance or cleaning.

Image 11. Setting of the main pole on the foundation for the Drill tree.

Image 12. Setting of the corner pillars of the downer platform of the Drill tree

Image 13. Setting of the beams on the ladders of the scaffold

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LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Image 14. Setting of the main beam of the top platform of the Drill tree before shifting the scaffolding to mount the first level

February 2018 objectives: □ Mount, control and adjust the Drill metal tree in the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure and then in the Drill enclosure □ Build the fence of the savannah-dwelling guenon enclosure □ Complete the construction of new metal enrichment structures for the Chimpanzee Island (delayed)

9 5. Material & Equipment □ Received medical material, drugs and consumables

February 2018 objectives: □ None

6. Capacity building Ongoing activities □ Professionalized & trained staff, students and volunteers to the behavioural (quarantine & stage 1) and social (stage 2) rehabilitation

Specific activities □ Implemented a daily, weekly and monthly field monitoring programme: Health & Safety and population management/primate rehabilitation

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the above ongoing activities

7. Conservation and Environmental Education □ Nature's Club: Started 2017-2018 programme: 187 children registered; monthly effort: 133 children.days □ School outreach programme: Monthly effort: 59.0 men.hrs, covering 11 schools, 28 classes and 1,101 students

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with ongoing programmes

8. Constituency for conservation □ Community-based Green Economy: 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild plants: 2,100

Aframomum stems and 1,092 kg of Costus stems; 30 women members harvesting crop by-product: 937 kg of cassava leaves, 2,080 kg of papaya leaves, 2,305 kg of potato leaves, 977 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to ~217 trees hand cut; 880,625 XAF (1,344 EUR) paid directly to the community

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association this month; 880,625 XAF (1,344 EUR) contributed to alleviate poverty in 2018

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing programme

9. Conservation ecotourism □ Continued with the ongoing activities

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities

10. Management of animal population and well-being Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichments by sections □ Drill: Continued Monday's social reintegration process (diabetic adult male)

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

Specific activities □ Implemented a strict programme to enhance Monday's health after few days of weakness due to his diabetic condition □ Implemented a stricter programme for the feeding of the Mandrills and Olive baboons to ensure all individuals of the group, including the last ones introduced, have sufficient access to food resources

□ Vet cares (January 2018): ◌ 28 Primate individuals treated; 5 anaesthesia performed; 0 individuals sampled (0 blood samples for haematology analysis, 0 fecal samples for coprology analysis, 0 exudates sample for microbiology analysis); 0 identification with microchip; 0 minor surgery; 1 laceration repair; 52 drug therapies (of which 31% for Nyassosso and Koko): 25% antibiotics, 18% dietary supplements, 22% antiinflammatories, 16% antiparasitics, 2% antifungals, 2% insulin injections for diabetic individuals, 6% fluid therapies, 9% others; 0 health checks (General health checks: 0; Medical diagnosis: 0); 0 contraception; 2 deaths: Drill (1: Nyassosso (adult male), acute pneumonia); Crowned monkey (1: Akaro (subadult male), acute gastrointestinal disorder); 1 euthanasia: Drill (1: Koko (adult senescent male), multiple massive internal and ulcerated external untreatable tumours causing acute pain) ◌ 1 Lizard buzzard underwent health check and receive fluid therapy and antibiotic treatment at arrival

11 February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ Vet cares: General health checks: Western lowland gorilla (4 males & 2 females); Contraception: None; Microchip identification: None

11. Rehabilitation and release programme Arrival & quarantine □ 1 infant male Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) (Image 18) □ 1 Lizard buzzard (Kaupifalco mongrammicus) (Image 19)

Behavioural rehabilitation □ Western lowland gorilla: Started behavioural rehabilitation of the infant male (Images 20-21)

Social rehabilitation □ Chimpanzee: Lolo, Madame & Mayos continued social integration process in Chimp Island □ Drill: Eyole continued social rehabilitation in the third satellite cage of the drill enclosure: familiarization with all members of the group in adjoining room

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

□ Savannah-dwelling guenon: Started social integration of Etinde (Tantalus monkey) and Lydia (Patas monkey) into the Boyo's group

Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) □ None

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Image 15. This one and half year old infant gorilla was rescued few days only after he was extracted from the forest by poachers. They most likely killed his mother for the bush meat trade. Fortunately, he was still in good body condition.

Image 16. This Lizard buzzard is a class B species in Cameroon. It cannot be hunted or kept unless authorisation are provided. ALthough its wings are a bit damaged, we hope we can release it free in the next few months.

Image 17. The first days of his rehabilitation, KILLI MATUTE Stephen, our Head of quarantine, remain available to the infant gorilla but did not initiate contact. Meanwhile, he behaved as an adult gorilla, foraging and feeding on Aframomum sp. and Costus sp., two wild herbaceous plants provided by the community and staple food of gorillas in the wild.

Image 18. As he was in a safe and calm environment, the gorilla became confident and could rest on our caretaker. That is how the relationship starts. Slowly, he became more active, and after few days only, he started to drink milk and play!

February 2018 objectives: □ Chimpanzee: Continue step 2 of the social rehabilitation process of Lolo, Madame & Mayos

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

□ Drill: Continue Eyole's social rehabilitation in satellite cage □ Savannah-dwelling guenon: Continue social integration of Etinde (Tantalus monkey) and Lydia (Patas monkey) into the Boyo's group

12. Research, Monitoring & Health Safety rules Ongoing activities □ Drill: Continued daily monitoring of Monday (diabetic adult male) glycaemia, continued training for insulin injection

Activity achievement □ None

Data analysis □ None

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue with above ongoing activities

13 13. Communication & Visibility □ None

February 2018 objectives: □ Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon □ Organize a debate of ideas on the theme of Conservation and Protection of Primates in Cameroon, Institut Français du Cameroun, Yaounde, 27 February

LWC Monthly Report

January 18

14. Revenues generated â–Ą Entrance fees (January 2018): 2,517,400 XAF (6,232 visitors; 57% adults, 43% children) 8000 6000 4000 2000 0

Adult Nationals

Children Nationals

Adult Foreigners

Children Foreigners

Figure 1. Visitor statistics January 2017-January 2018

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