Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
The population of chimpanzees in Africa has declined dramatically due to illegal wildlife trafficking, habitat loss and hunting. The Chimpanzee Conservation Centre (CCC) in Guinea is a sanctuary and a rehabilitation center for orphaned western chimpanzees, one of the most endangered sub species. Most of the animals, looked after by the CCC, were orphaned and subsequently confiscated by the Guinea government after being taken as babies in the wild from their family groups. The animals often suffer from physical and psychological damage, but with care, attention and compassion from the keepers and volunteers, the animals begin the long process of gaining independence and learning how to survive in the wild.
Here, volunteer Anissa Aidat, 23, from France holds new arrival Kandar at the center on November 28, 2015 in Somoria, Guinea.
Rehabilitating chimps
A portrait of Missy at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre on November 28, 2015.
According to the Great Apes Survival Partnership, (GRASP), for every young chimpanzee rescued, around 10 of its family members will have likely been killed in the process.
Rehabilitating chimps
Volunteer Camille Le Maire, 27, from Nice, France makes her way down a path with several of the nursery group hanging on during an afternoon bushwalk on December 01, 2015 in Somoria, Guinea.
Rehabilitating chimps
Spanish veterinary volunteer Christina Collell (L) performs a health check on new arrival Kandar at the center on November 28, 2015. The five-month-old chimp arrived at the CCC after being rescued by authorities from traffickers. He spent his first three months with surrogate mother Anissa Aidat, 23, from France.
Rehabilitating chimps
Shelly stands in a tree in her enclosure at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre, (CCC) on November 27, 2015. The rehabilitation process takes over 10 years.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
The dominant male of the group, Sam, lays in grassland during a bushwalk at the center on December 01, 2015.
As the chimpanzees get older human contact grows more limited in preparation for their release back into the wild.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Keeper Daouda Keita collects the baby group from their enclosure for their first bushwalk on November 26, 2015.
The rescued chimps often suffer from serious health conditions including skin and respiratory diseases, psychological disorders due to abuse and their captivity as well as malnutrition, according to the CCC.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Photos of all the chimpanzees being cared for at the CCC are seen on a billboard on November 24, 2015.
The CCC is supported in part by Project Primate, Inc., a U.S. NGO. The center is located on the Banks of the River Niger in the Haut Niger National Park in Guinea, West Africa and consists of around 6000 square km of Savannah and tropical dry forests.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Hawa sits on a rock next to the River Niger during a bushwalk on November 26, 2015. Hawa was rescued from poachers by Guinee Application de la Loi Faunique, (GALF). The poachers had killed Hawa’s mother and ate her. The adult chimps are often killed for bushmeat.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Keeper Albert Wamouno lets the adult chimpanzees back into their enclosure for their evening meal on November 24, 2015.
Rehabilitating chimps
French volunteer Audrey Lenormand, 27, holds ten-month-old Soumba for the first time after being handed him by GALF, at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre, (CCC) on November 26, 2015.
Soumba was rescued from traffickers by authorities and is the 50th baby chimpanzee to arrive at the CCC.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Missy (L) and Hawa groom each other during a daily bushwalks at the center on November 28, 2015 in Somoria, Guinea.
As the chimps develop they are slowly integrated back into larger family groups until they are ready for their eventual release. The rescued chimps have often had little interaction with their peers so they lack basic social and community skills.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Keeper Fayer Kourouma interacts with Labe, one of the nursery group over sugar cane during a forest bushwalk at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre (CCC) on December 01, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
CCC member Mamadi Camara conducts monitoring work using satellite tracking equipment on the River Niger at dawn near at the CCC on November 23, 2015.
Released chimpanzees are fitted with VHF collars which allows for daily monitoring via telemetry and GPS.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
The days duties are displayed on a board on November 24, 2015.
Rehabilitating chimps
French volunteer Audrey Lenormand, 27, cuddles ten-month-old Soumba on November 27, 2015.
For the first three months orphans are cared for 24 hours a day by a volunteer quarantined away from other chimpanzees and staff. They are then integrated into a group of peers.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Keeper Kouyate Konio and volunteer Anissa Aidat bond with members of the nursery group during a bushwalk on November 30, 2015.
The CCC’s goals include educating the local and international communities about the threats facing chimpanzee populations and raising awareness about illegal wildlife trafficking. Their local campaigns tell the local population that it is illegal to kill, eat, capture or sell chimpanzees.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Hawa, part of the baby group, is fed after a morning bushwalk on November 26, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Labe swings in trees one one of her daily bushwalks on November 28, 2015.
The rehabilitation process focuses on “re-wilding.” The chimps learn to climb, forage and interact with other chimps.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
The evening meeting takes place for keepers and volunteers to dish out the following day’s duties at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre (CCC) on December 02, 2015.
Staff
Hawa drinks a bottle of milk substitute in her enclosure after a morning bushwalk on November 27, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Chimpanzees play with keeper Kouyate Konio during a bushwalk on November 30, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Grassland is seen burnt near the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre (CCC) on December 03, 2015. Much of the savanah around the center is burnt every year intentionally by keepers to eliminate the risk of fire and smoke near the camp.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Ten-month-old Soumba, holds onto to the leg of a keeper after being left alone momentarily for the first time since her recent arrival at the center on December 03, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Sory Keira interacts with 12-year-old Lobai through the enclosure fence on November 24, 2015
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Keepers and volunteers collect branches to make clean nests for chimpanzees on December 02, 2015 in Somoria, Guinea.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Ten-month-old Soumba, grabs French volunteer Audrey Lenormand’s hat on November 29, 2015.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimpanzees
Keeper Daouda Keita carries two members of the baby group during a bushwalk on November 29, 2015.
The center acknowledges that releasing them chimps back into the wild is both difficult and controversial. They point to the success of HELP Congo, a group that has successfully released more than 30 chimpanzees since 1996. The CCC released its first group in 2008. Some of the released chimps have given birth in the wild and have been seen interacting with the wild chimpanzee population--all positive signs.
Rehabilitating orphaned chimps
Shelly sits in a tree in her enclosure at the CCC on November 22, 2015.
Once the chimpanzees are released in the Haut Niger National Park they rarely see the center’s staff. Though tourism is allowed in the park, the remote location of the sanctuary severely limits access.