Limbe Wildlife Centre: August-September 2021

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Monthly Report

August-September 2021

Limbe Wildlife Centre: August-September 2021 Cover page: Eta, the dominant male of the Red-capped Mangabey group.

Published in October 2021 Limbe Wildlife Centre, P.O. Box 878, Limbe, Republic of Cameroon

Limbe Wildlife Centre is a collaborative effort between the Pandrillus Foundation and the Republic of Cameroon, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, MINFOF Pandrillus Foundation is a non-profit making NGO specialized in the protection, rehabilitation and reintroduction of primates, as well as management and sustainable financing of conservation projects in Africa Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is in charge of implementing the national forest policy for ensuring sustainable management and conservation of wildlife and biodiversity over the national territory as enacted by forestry law No. 01/94 of 20 February which regulates all forestry, wildlife and fisheries activities

peggy@limbewildlife.org limbewildlifecentre

+237 698 87 7002 limbewildlife

ALL OUR REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE

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limbewildlife.org limbewildlife

Monthly Report

August-September 2021

Accreditations & Awards

In December 2018, the Limbe Wildlife Centre had its accreditation with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) renewed for another five years. PASA is the largest association of wildlife centres and sanctuaries in Africa, founded by the Limbe Wildlife Centre, along with 6 other primate sanctuaries. Today, PASA includes 23 organizations in 13 countries that demonstrate exceptional commitment to securing a future for Africa’s primates and their habitat and implement the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation practices.

In April 2018, the Limbe Wildlife Centre was voted Best Volunteer Abroad Project and chosen to feature in the Tutorful’s Wildlife Conservation editorial along with other prestigious organisations making a notable difference in wildlife conservation worldwide. The LWC gives people the chance to volunteer and assist experienced caregivers with the daily caregiving activities, offering the opportunity for volunteers to the experience of making a meaningful contribution to primate conservation (and all the satisfaction this provides).

In August 2019, the Limbe Wildlife Centre received a 2019 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award at the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland, in recognition of the remarkable efforts the LWC has made to help combat wildlife crime.

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Monthly Report

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Content

ACCREDITATIONS & AWARDS FOREWORD OUR PRIORITY FINANCIAL NEEDS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS LWC’s SPECIAL SUPPORTER LWC’s SPECIAL AWARDT

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ACHIEVEMENTS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021 & OBJECTIVES OCTOBER 2021 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership & Public Relations 2. Population management & Animal welfare 3. Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release programme 4. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment 5. Community Conservation, Environmental education & Ecotourism 6. Wildlife conservation research & Health monitoring 7. Capacity building, staff empowerment & Mentorship 8. Communication & Visibility 9. Revenues generated

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Foreword

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | PROJECT MANAGER No time for resting!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

to you even more can be achieved in the next few months.

Throughout the rainy season, the team at the Limbe Wildlife Centre has remained very active, and it is surely because of such hard work and discipline that we received two major recognitions of late.

It certainly gives us great pride, and we hope that this interest and engagement from our supporters will convert into much-needed sponsorships for the Giving Day for Apes on the 12th October 2021!

The funds raised will serve to support special care for disabled chimpanzees and gorillas to improve their daily life and mitigate the burden of their handicaps (p 25). Keep the date and share, so that thanks

The first recognition we received is a personal honour given by Born Free Foundation UK, one of our most engaged and supportive donors. I am proud to have been nominated for the McKenna-Travers award (p 11). More importantly, this is the result of hard work and the success of a project run in close partnership with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and all the team members at the Limbe Wildlife Centre.

They’ve all shown true dedication to saving the iconic African grey parrots from extinction in Cameroon. We hope to win the award and gain further support the firstever GPS-tagging of parrots. This will

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August-September 2021

dramatically improve post-release monitoring and help strategize the conservation of this species in-situ, in partnership with various protected areas in the country. I thank the Born Free Foundation for this confidence and increased support over the years.

parliamentarians of the 6 countries members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) who exceptionally visited the LWC and appreciated the successful collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and Pandrillus.

Secondly, we were invited to give two presentations at the EAZA ’21 online annual conference. Our first presentation focused on the progress made in the past two years to improve the rehabilitation and release of the African grey parrot. We then presented our strategy to improve the conservation of the red-capped mangabey, declared endangered in 2019. We outlined plans to protect their critical ecosystem: the rapidly disappearing mangroves and coastal forests in the Cross-Sanaga region (p 12).

Support does not stop here this month, as we are thrilled that the donation of 150 high quality padlock by ABUS have finally arrived at the LWC. This is going to change all our life and ensure higher level of safety and security: Thank you ABUS! We are excited to announce that the major construction project of 2021, despite some delays and a complex situation, has kicked off (p 18)! Thank you to all our donors, particularly long-term friend of the LWC, Ms Annelies Begas. The project is progressing well and should be completed by the end of the year.

Even more happened on the ground: we thank Jane Goodall Institute who funded a brand-new ultrasound to the LWC. They also provided an X-ray machine, shared between the three sanctuaries in Cameroon (Ape Action Africa and Sanaga Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre) to strengthen our diagnostic capacities. We have already used this last generation technology to investigate a temporary paralysis observed in an adult chimpanzee.

More investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, Tinto-Mbu is receiving extra care and hourly attention.

This will be my last few months managing the Limbe Wildlife Centre, after more than 6 years of dedication. Recruitment is currently taking place and the next manager should arrive on the ground around November barring major issues. In the meantime, I will keep supporting the team and ensure we all continue to progress together towards making an even bigger impact. This can only be achieved by the team, with everyone keeping the focus on their respective roles and responsibilities to ensure the LWC “machine” runs fast and straight.

The professionalism and team efforts made in this difficult period served as an inspiring model to the 50 honourable invited -6-

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We are also pleased to report several more interesting developments of the last two months.

We have strengthened our collaboration with the African Marine Mammals Conservation Organisation with the technical and institutional support we provided for the autopsy of a wild manatee wash up to Down Beach Limbe.

We have also seen the arrival of new rescues, who immediately entered the strict

rehabilitation protocol under the supervision of our head of quarantine.

Finally, the rotation of the strip left fallow in the mandrill enclosure has been a huge success in providing them with a rich source of natural food!

We wish for you all to stay healthy, warm and safe.

Thank you all, as ever, for your unfailing support.

Stay safe and healthy!

Peggy Motsch Project Manager

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Monthly Report

August-September 2021

Our priority financial needs 1. Help us protect our rescued animals during COVID-19!

COVID-19 updates in Cameroon The number of confirmed cases reaching more than 92,000, with a marked increase in number of new cases detected throughout September (Monthly increase: +11%).

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The virus still circulates in the community and caution must be maintained

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DONATE NOW TO PROTECT THEM FROM COVID-19!

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Nov-20

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We must continue to boost the immunity of 14 critically endangered gorillas, 43 endangered chimps, and 65 endangered Drills and maintain biosecurity measures vs.

COVID-19.

2. Splitting the large gorilla enclosure To enable our gorillas to enjoy an enriched outdoor every day, take part in this amazing project and help us divide and reenrich the largest enclosure with climbing structures and shelter to rest, hide and play.

Needed: €3,000

RE-ENRICH THE GORILLAS ENCLOSURE HERE! 3. Construct new enclosures for our Guenons and Mangabeys!

Our Mona monkey and Red-capped Mangabeys have reached maximum capacity, therefore they need more space, to increase group cohesion and individual well-being. Goal: €11,000

INCREASE THEIR LIVING SPACE NOW! Contact info@limbewildlife.org to know more

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August-September 2021 Highlights

□ Parliamentarian from all CEMAC countries visited the LWC □ Two presentations on conservation of the Red-Capped Mangabey and the African grey parrot presented at the EAZA conference □ Mandrill: Opened access to the densely grassed strip left fallowland □ 1 Tantalus monkey rescued □ Received Ultrasound funded by Jane Goodall Institute □ Received Electrocardiogram donated by Projet Vet □ Received 150 Padlocks donated by ABUS □ Completed the first aid training of the staff and ended by interactive scenario □ Launched our GivingDay for Apes fundraising coming up on October 12th □ Media coverage : 2 onlines articles

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Selma is one of the longest standing supporters of the Limbe Wildlife Centre, and it all started in 2001, when she helped and initiated the rescue of gorilla, Batek. Since then she has always continued to show her support to us and Batek over the years.

“When I was working in eastern Cameroon in 2001, I was approached by people who told me a baby gorilla was being kept in a cage. Missionaries had taken him from the forest and given to a man who put him in a cage in his garden, and named him Batek.

The man allowed me to take care of him while I looked for a better place for Batek.

Jane Dewar, an expert on gorillas, advised me on Limbe Wildlife Center. Batek was welcome there and the LWC staff greeted him at the gate with open arms. Whenever I am in Cameroon, I visit Batek, and I imagine he recognizes me. People of LWC form a big family together with the animals. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the management of the centre who, sometimes under not easy conditions, remain optimistic and their way of working is inspiring and encouraging.”

-Selma Forotti

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On the 23rd of September, the finalists for McKenna-Travers award for Compassionate Conservation 2021 were announced. Among five women conservationists, our manager Peggy Motsch has been shortlisted as a finalist. This is doubtless in recognition of Peggy’s incredible success in leading a highly qualified and dedicated team of veterinarians, animal care and construction staff in the African grey parrot (AGP) conservation programme. Established with the Government of Cameroon after 2017’s ban of international trade in AGP, the programme illustrates Peggy’s unfailing commitment to the protection of the species.

Peggy is a French primatologist and ecologist. The last 15 years have seen her working in Gabon, Congo and Cameroon, engaging in wildlife research, care and conservation, and hands-on project management. For the last six years, she has been the manager of the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon.

The LWC has made dramatic progress since 2019 concerning the Rehabilitation of the AGP. Investment in infrastructure and staff has greatly enhanced our management of rescued animals. This has vastly improved the rescued AGP’ prospects of returning to the wild. In collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, the LWC initiated the national rescue, rehabilitation and release (3R) programme in Cameroon.

The LWC team now aims to improve post-release monitoring by equipping 10 AGPs from different flocks with harmless GPS. We hope to reproduce this methodology in Protected Areas to help restore dwindling wild populations and improve ecological knowledge on the species. This will allow us to advise the government and other partners on strategies for the protection of the wild population from poaching and trafficking. To know more about the AGP project, please read the 2-years report.

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Achievements August-September 2021 & Objectives October 2021 1. Pandrillus-GoC Partnership & Public Relations Funders

Specific activities □ Parliamentarians on training for the strategy of “one health”, from all CEMAC countries (Sao Tome & Principe, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Gabon and CAR), exceptionally visited the LWC despite restricted access to explain LWC efforts to provide care, to combat trafficking, to educate people and to present all the measure put in place for Covid-19. □ The Project Manager made a presentation for the Parrot Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and explained Pandrillus strategy to save the iconic African grey parrot from Extinction in Cameroon during the EAZA Conference, 21 September □ The Project Manager made a presentation for the Old World Monkey Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and explained Pandrillus strategy to improve the conservation of the Red-capped Mangabey and their critical environment in Cameroon, during the EAZA Conference, 24 September (Image 1)

Image 1. EAZA ’21 online annual conference. We presented our strategy to improve the conservation of the red-capped mangabey, in Cameroon.

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October 2021 objectives □ Review the proposal of the national strategy to rehabilitate and release the African grey parrots (pending)

2. Population management & Animal welfare Funders

Ongoing activities □ Maintained frequency and diversity of enrichments in each section

Specific activities □ Western Lowland Gorilla: Continuing physiotherapy with Twiggs (Adult female) focusing on her disabled right arm □ Guenon/Mangabey: Start the introduction of Sarah (Red-capped mangabey) & Aggie (Red-eared monkey) (Image 2) □ Mandrill: Opened access to the densely grassed strip left fallow land (Image 3) □ Vet cares (August-September 2021): o Boosting primate immune systems during Covid-19: providing on daily basis vitamins, plants infusion, extra protein and other nutritional enrichment to all primates o Primates: 342 individuals treated; 7 anaesthesia performed; 42 individuals sampled (4 blood sample for haematology analysis, 4 blood sample for biochemistry analysis, 42 faecal samples for coprology analysis, 4 urine analysis; 0 Tracheal swab for microbiology analysis); 3 X-ray; 1 ultrasound; 0 contraception; 0 identification with a microchip; 2 laceration repairs; 58 drug therapies: 31% dietary supplements, 28% antibiotics, 18% anti-inflammatories,

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10% expectorant , 7% topical disinfectant and 6% others; 1 death: Ewake (female adult chimpanzee, bilateral lungs atrophy) (Images 4-5) o African grey parrots: 22 general health checks; 0 health checks before release; 0 transferrals to the soft-release aviary, 9 transferrals to the rehabilitation aviary; 2 individuals received extra care and nutritional supplement to boost feather regrowth; 1 death

Image 2. Aggie & Sarah introduction slowly started. As Aggie is blind we don’t want to stress her too much, so we progressively increase the time they spend together. So far so good, they are not friends yet but they manage to cohabite well during the short time together.

Image 3. In the Mandrill enclosure, we always close a small section to grow some natural plants. When the plants are big enough we open to the mandrill so they can forage as they will do in the wild.

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Image 4. Mbu, a female adult, started to develop paralysis in her back leg.

Dr Natalia came from Ape Action Africa (AAA) to help us with an X-ray machine funded by Jane Goodall Institute for the 3 sanctuaries in Cameroon. Thanks a lot to AAA for their help.

Image 5. Dr Natalia took the advantage to perform an ultrasound on the paralysed Chimpanzee to try to find another reason of it. Thanks to Jane Goodall Institute for this generous gift they provide for the LWC. It helps a lot for complicated diagnostic.

October 2021 objectives: □ Continue with the ongoing activities □ African grey parrots: Continue to provide special care for the last individuals with difficulties improving their body conditions □ Vet cares: Contraception: Drills (3); Health check: African Grey Parrot (2)

3. Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release programme Funders

Arrival & quarantine □ Tantalus monkey (Cholorocebus tantalus): 1 juvenile male rescued (Image 6) □ Genet: a baby male genet rescued (Image 7) □ African Rock Python: a baby rescued

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□ Duiker: a baby duiker rescued Behavioural rehabilitation □ Preuss Monkey: Continued behavioural rehabilitation □ Tantalus monkey: Start behavioural rehabilitation □ Genet: Start behavioural rehabilitation (Image 8) Social rehabilitation □ African grey parrot: Continued to maintain the care and enrichment of the 46 African grey parrots in the large aviary Release (ecological & environmental rehabilitation) □ 1 baby duiker back to the mother □ 1 African rock python

Image 6 a&b. Ngu, is a young juvenile Tantalus monkey which was rescued from the Littoral Region. He arrived in good condition and already started his rehabilitation during his quarantine.

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Image 7. This baby male Genet, Ntobi, has been caught by villagers when they saw that some people was hunting the mother. He had a health check and saw that he is in good condition. He now starts his rehabilitation progress having milk every 3 hours to ensure he grows up well.

Image 8. Baby male Genet, Ntobi, has a big cage with lot of enrichments. As we want to release him, we made a very natural environment so he can get used to it during his rehabilitation process.

October 2021 objectives: □ Continue the ongoing rehabilitation activities □ Preuss Monkey: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process □ Tantalus monkey: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process □ Genet: Continue the behavioural rehabilitation process

4. Infrastructures and development| Material & Equipment Funders

Activities □ Western Lowland Gorillas: Preparation to start the splitting of the enclosure (Images 9-14)

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□ African rock Python: Change and fix the window in front of the enclosure and Installation of a pool drain □ Special care Chimpanzee: Built a new hammock for the paralysed chimpanzee □ Received Ultrasound funded by Jane Goodall Institute □ Received Electrocardiogram donated by Project Vet (Image 15) □ Received 150 Padlocks donated by ABUS (Image 16) □ Duikers path: Welding, cement work and bamboo screen (Image 17) □ Guenons: Started the maintenance of Mantum’s group of Mona monkey & Zulu’s group of Putty-nosed monkey (Image 18-23) □ Volunteer house: Refurbishing the deck of the V-house (Image 24-25) □ Mandrill: Change the position of the fallow land (Image 26) □ Quarantine: Installation of a metal box to protect the electric cable

Image 9. Welding and wire brushing of Image 10. Applying first layer of antimetal pipe for the Gorilla enclosure. corrosion paint for the Gorilla enclosure.

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Image 11. Applying second layer of paint for Image 12. Crafting rod mesh for the the Gorilla enclosure. safety and security cage for keepers for the Gorilla enclosure.

Image 13. Applying first layer of anti- Image 14.

Insulator wooden pole corrosion paint for the Gorilla enclosure. preparation for the Gorilla enclosure.

Image 15. New Electrocardiogram donated Image 16. 150 new padlocks donated

by Project Vet.

by ABUS.

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Image 17 a&b. Cleaned, fixed & installed Bamboo fence on the Duiker enclosure from the visitors view.

Image 18. Maintenance of the Mantum’ Image 19. enclosure enclosure

Maintenance of Zulu’s

Image 20. View of the all the satellites Image 21. New enrichments provided in maintained for Matum & Zulu enclosures.

Mantum’s enclosure.

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Image 22. New Concrete floor to allow a Image 23.

Installation of branches better evacuation during cleaning from holder in Zulu’s enclosure.

Guenons section.

Image 24. Scrubbing the Volunteer House Image 25. The Volunteer House with the terrace wall by a volunteer which we want new painted wall. to thank for his effort to help the LWC.

Image 26 a&b. Opening & changing the place of the fallow land in the Mandrill Enclosure.

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October 2021 objectives □ Finish Zulu’s and Mantum’s group maintenance (postponed) □ Continue the Gorilla’s splitting enclosure

5. Community Conservation, Environmental education & Ecotourism Funders

Activities □ School outreach programme: 2021-2022 programme will start in October 2021□ □ Saturday Nature Club: Postponed until the 2022 □ Art4Nature: Continued to produce a series of animated videos, billboards, posters, and radio podcasts to promote forest ecosystem preservation. □ Green project: 73 community members benefited from the Community-based Green Economy; 15 ex-hunter members sustainably harvesting wild herbaceous plants: 1599 kg of Aframomum stems and 968 kg of Costus stems; 58 women members harvesting crop by-product: 1549 kg of cassava leaves, 7093 kg of papaya leaves, 5917 kg of potato leaves, 418 kg of invasive Trumpet wood shoots, corresponding to 93 trees hand-cut; 1,867,590 FCFA (€2,851) paid directly to the local community association this month; 9,052,660 FCFA (€13,821) contributed to alleviate local poverty in 2021.

October 2021 objectives □ Continue with ongoing programs □ Organisation of workshop with the member of the community at Batoke Village □ Start the 2021-2022 outreach programme

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6. Wildlife conservation research & Health monitoring Funders □ None

Ongoing activities □ Recovery monitoring of the rescued endangered African grey parrots: Continued to collect data during health checks and through direct observation □ Monitoring the soft-release of endangered African grey parrot: Continued the collection of daily data on the parrot movement and use of the environment □ Establishing Haematological Reference Values for the endangered Drill: Continued to build the dataset of haematological data extracted from 18 years of analysis (20022019), corresponding to 199 samples, and including a total of 21 haematological parameters.

Achieved activities □ None

October 2021 objectives □ Continue with the above ongoing activities

7. Capacity building, staff empowerment & Mentorship □ Continue the training of the new physiotherapist working with one of our female adult gorillas □ First aid workshop: Completed the first aid training of the staff and ended by interactive scenario in small groups during 4 days (Image 27) □ Risk and safety workshop: Revisiting the protocols of the security rules & the escape procedures of the LWC to all the staff and volunteers.

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Image 27 a&b. Nurse volunteer enacts a scenario of having a severe wound, to encourage and show the LWC staff what to do in such a medical emergency and how to tie a turniquete until stop the bleeding until further medical asssiatnce arrives or to enable the transportation of the injured person.

October 2021 objectives □ Continue with the above ongoing activities □ Staff workshop: Presentation of the project to splitting gorilla enclosure by Vallarine Aforlica, Head of Construction (postponed) □ Staff workshop: 3 days of Workshop about Marine wildlife by African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO)

8. Communication & Visibility □ Digital communication (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter): In the month of August and September, we have seen yet another increase of 1,372 overall followers on our platforms! With Twitter and Instagram alone, we were able to reach 128,524 people with our conservation message, and a further 54,244 viewed it via our YouTube channel. An overall increase of reach and engagement shows a positive incline of an audience who are being exposed to our vital message to continue the protection of wildlife.

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□ Giving Day for Apes 2021: Launched our campaign coming up on October 12th!

This year, with our ‘Share And Care For Rescued Apes’ campaign, we are raising special funds to build new enrichment structures such as climbing frames, termite mounds, large outdoor hammocks and more for our 56 great apes. This is absolutely vital to keep the animals stimulated, thus upholding their mental and physical wellbeing. □ Media coverage : 2 online articles were made Online article: Animal keeper plays with baby gorilla, Right This Minute, 23 August 2021

th

Online post: Zoo keeper has the most amazing bond with disabled gorilla, Daily Mail Animals, 20 August 2021 th

October 2021 objectives: □ Continue advocating the missions of the LWC within the Central African Conservation Landscape in Cameroon □ Giving day for Apes: Reach our fundraising goal of $10,000 to build new enrichment structures

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Monthly Report

August-September 2021

9. Revenues generated □ Entrance fees (August-September 2021): FCFA 0 (0 visitors; 0 % children, 0 % Cameroonians) due to the closure of the Limbe Wildlife Centre to visitors

Figure 1. Visitor statistics Sept 2020 - Sept 2021

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