Two Chimp Infants Confiscated and Sent to Lwiro Primate Sanctuary

In the past year, a total of five chimpanzee infants and one baboon have been confiscated by ICCN rangers in the northeastern region of DRC. After each confiscation, they were brought to our station in Epulu for immediate care for stabilization before transferring them to Lwiro Primate Sanctuary in Bukavu for long term care.

Most recently, two chimps were confiscated a few months ago from known Ebola areas. A male chimp from Maiko National Park and a female from the town of Mambasa. Once confiscated, Mokonzi and Mao, two staff that cared for okapi when they were at the station, immediately went into action to care for these chimps. Though we believe the infants to be close in age, the male is much smaller and lighter in color, possibly due to malnourishment. He also arrived with an unknown eye injury or infection. Both chimps were treated and deemed clear of Ebola, and once they were stabilized, we arranged transport to Lwiro Primate Sanctuary with the help of Anthony Caere, a pilot with Virunga National Park.  To read more, click here.