June 1999: Before I left for Cameroon, West Africa, I was strongly advised: "Don't spend all your time just the with gorillas! There are other wonderful animals there, like the drills and lovely guenon and mangabey monkeys!" Well, I took heed of this advice and visited all the Limbe animals at least twice daily, often with treats of raisins, granola and sunflower seeds. But my main reason to travel to Cameroon was to get to know the gorillas at Limbe. As is the case with all the animals at Limbe, the 7 gorillas started life as victims of the bushmeat trade, survivors of massacres that killed their families. Such survivals are rare, making their stories even more special.

Gorilla Haven is designed to help captive gorillas lead more enriched lives. It makes sense that we also be actively involved in helping gorillas in their native Africa, where gorillas are extremely rare in captivity, and where their numbers in the wild are dwindling fast, due to deforestation, human population encroachment and the bushmeat trade. Unlike chimps or monkeys, gorillas seem to give up and die rather than endure the hellish lives captive primates often face in Africa and elsewhere. The goal of Limbe is to release all animals back to the wild, if and as possible, but with great apes this is problematic, if not impossible, since hand-reared or captive animals cannot survive in the wild. Hopefully if funds are raised, Limbe will be able to release these gorillas (as well as their other animals) to a large, free-living preserve, where the animals can be protected from hunters and provisioned, but left alone to live a life as free as possible.

Gorilla Haven has supported Limbe for several years and I wanted to see first hand just how and if our money was being put to good use. This was immediately confirmed when I met the people and animals at Limbe, and saw how much could be done with relatively little money. Zoos spend millions of dollars on fancy exhibits, which is a great way to inspire and educate the public about the plight of animals in their native habitats, as well as to provide a better life for their captive charges. However, if a mere fraction of such spending could be sent to help Limbe, the effects could/would be astounding. For $50,000 a year, Limbe can operate, taking care of the 80+ animals currently housed there and staff expenses. For $100,000 a year, Limbe can build larger, better enclosures. For $250,000 a year, Limbe can thrive and also expand their unique and effective education program, the Limbe Wildlife Center Nature's Club, into other parts of Cameroon, including the bush where hunting endangered animals is unfortunately still an accepted way of life. Alas, currently they cannot raise enough money to even cover their operating costs and so each day is a struggle for survival.

Limbe's staff is remarkable. Linda Percy and Tony Chasar, two American volunteers, work tirelessly, assisting and training a staff of wonderful Cameroonians. Gorilla keepers, Wilson, Bama and Jonathan are loving, eager and intelligent men anxious to learn more. No one at Limbe, except Jonathan, who went to Jersey for some training, has ever seen a silverback gorilla! Andreas, Johnson, Abraham, Mr. Abang, Jacob, Evelyn, Simon and Stephen are the chimp, monkey and drill keepers, who have the same keen sense of pride and eagerness to learn. Abel heads the Nature's Club, where school children from all over can come to the zoo (free of charge) to learn about the animals and the environment.

Stephen's story is classic: Raised in a hunting village, where bushmeat and killing gorillas and chimps was routine, Stephen caught a viper (snake) one day and brought it to the zoo in the hopes of selling it. The zoo had no money, but they said they'd take the snake and Stephen agreed to come back later when they had money to give him. He kept returning to the zoo for money that was never there, but in the process he started to talk to the staff, observe the animals, and before he knew it, he had a job working with the drills. Today Stephen is a converted conservationist, who doesn't eat meat and who returns home to his village to tell his father and the village elders why bushmeat is not a good thing!! His brother, Johnson, is now a chimp keeper, so perhaps there will be at least one less village hunting bushmeat! Photo of Nyango on arrival at Limbe courtesy LWC.

But the gorillas were my main reason for going. Reading about Pitchou's struggle to survive (photo on left shows her on arrival at Limbe, courtesy LWC), I wanted to see her for myself. I will confess I fought back tears several times during my 7 day stay at Limbe, but they were all tears of joy tinged with the sadness that such stories of survival were so rare. Pitchou was everything and more that I thought she'd be. But so were the others, who we assigned nicknames on our last day …

Nyango, The Queen. (Female. Born approx.: 1990). The oldest at 9 years old, Nyango is the queen and she knows it. Raised by missionaries the first 3 or 4 years of her life, she ate meals at a table with a fork and spoon and still has difficulty understanding why she's shut inside an enclosure with other gorillas, instead of wandering around the rest of the zoo with her loyal subjects, the people who are there to admire and love her. Nyango adores her Cameroonian keepers. And she's wonderful with the six younger gorillas now sharing her royal abode. As a gorilla singer, Nyango's up there with the best, humming a high pitched song of delight when served special treats like roasted corn on the cob or mangoes.

Pitchou, The Princess. (Female. Born approx.: 1997). As the youngest gorilla at Limbe, Pitchou is also the one who seems to know she's a gorilla the best, teaching the others tricks of the gorilla trade. After watching the keepers the first day or so, I noticed they'd hand feed or place all the food in one spot, creating a gorilla buffet. I suggested they spread things out a bit, to make the gorillas forage, like they'd do in the wild. At first, Nyango was shocked: "Why on earth are my servants not handing me food??" she seemed to be thinking. But then she noticed little Pitchou, quickly and efficiently finding all sorts of goodies buried between the blades of grass in the enclosure, and soon caught on. Even so, hours later, Pitchou would re-visit the scene of the goody-fest and discover more treats, whereas Nyango maintained more or an "out of sight means it doesn't exist" attitude.

Pitchou simply melts my heart, and not just because her survival is so miraculous. It's the feisty will to survive against all odds, combined with a confidence and sweetness that makes her so special. At one moment, she'd pout and whimper when milk wasn't given to her quickly enough or go to Nyango or Chella for reassurance or a ride, just like the baby she still is. The next moment, she'd cough a warning at Nyango or any other gorilla who got in her way, and if treated too roughly, she'd attack the aggressor to give them a piece of her mind, instead of being a victim. The mere thought of Pitchou brings a smile to my heart and the money we sent to help her more than a year ago remains the best investment we've ever made.

Chella, The "Robin Williams" of Gorillas. (Male. Born approx.: 1994). The actor/comedian Robin Williams uses his quick wit and facial expressions to create hysteria and uncontrollable laughter for all around him, and Chella, the oldest (5 years) male at Limbe is his gorilla reincarnation. I've never seen so many silly play faces and goofy gestures combined with a gentle, sweet nature in any other gorilla. Chella would smile then swipe his hands over his face in a Three Stooges "nyah-nyah-nyah" gesture, before rolling into a backwards somersault. When I put up a mirror, Chella chestbeat to it, stuck his tongue out, smiled, twirled and basically did a show for his reflection, making my sides hurt from laughter.

Like many comedians, their humor borne of tragedy, Chella's beginnings in life are horrific. He arrived at a logging camp, clinging terrified to the dead body of his mother, killed with the rest of his family for bushmeat. They couldn't pry him off his mother and when they finally did, his Limbe keepers held and cared for him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for months, before he was able to slowly accept his new lot in life. Most gorillas simply give up, after this kind of a trauma, and I'm convinced if the Limbe staff hadn't spent the time and efforts, holding and reassuring this young baby gorilla, Chella wouldn't be here. And a world without Chella would be a crime. I can't wait to see Chella as a silverback.

Emma, Miss Demure. (Female. Born approx.: 1996) Emma's life also began with the trauma of her capture, and medical woes have seen her several times on death's door, with IV drips and just the determination and love of the Limbe staff and prayers keeping her alive. She seemed depressed to me, and would often sit sucking the hair on her arm while the other gorillas played around her. But other times she'd climb and laugh and play like the others. Her status is likely to be low-ranking by virtue of her quiet yet extremely sweet personality.

In the morning, we'd order sandwiches from our hotel to bring to the zoo for lunch, which we'd then eat on a bench across from the gorilla enclosure. We'd try to be subtle, but inevitably, Emma would know we were there and would stand bipedally looking over at us as if to ask "Is any of that for me??" Often, we simply couldn't finish all the tomato or bread in the sandwich and sure enough, there'd be something to share, if the keeper said ok. Emma's sad eyes haunt me, but I'm comforted in seeing her and Pitchou or Benito cuddling and playing together and knowing there's hope.

Evindi, a.k.a. Romeo. (Male. Born approx.: 1994) If Emma's eyes were sad, Evindi's eyes could melt the coldest heart. He's smaller than Chella, but a lover boy who would follow us around with his eyes wherever we went, and come to sit near us, just to be close. Evindi might decide to be dominant if he and Chella mature together, but the jury's still out on that one. Evindi, like so many young male gorillas I've observed, would alternate between strutting around like a big boy and then act childish, pushing away other gorillas getting too much attention (in Evindi's mind), as his jealousy took over. At the moment, he's very focused on human females, but hopefully with time this will change.

Update: On April 7, 2001, after a brief illness, Evindi finally succumbed to a virus and passed away despite valiant efforts by the Limbe Wildlife Centre staff and associates. Evindi's special friend during my visit in May 1999 was Michele Davis who named her new legal consulting firm after him: Evindi, Inc., so his name and memory will live on.

Jumbo. The Little Mermaid. (Female. Born approx.: 1996). The enclosure at Limbe has a small wading pool as well as a water fountain that the gorillas can operate by pressing down, starting a stream of water. Jumbo spent a lot of her time sitting on top of the water fountain, washing her toys, food, self, etc., or playing in the pool. And Jumbo was always in the thick of things when food or games were involved, a very confident and curious young heroine, like Ariel, of Disney's "Little Mermaid" story - hence her nickname.

"Jumbala Bumbala," as her keepers affectionately call her, does a little dance, shaking her arms from her shoulders down, whenever she's excited - the arrival of food or milk, for example. I blew bubbles in the enclosure and Jumbo was the first to try to catch them, doing the Jumbo-dance when she caught one in her mouth, startled and thrilled when it popped. She danced and twirled, telling me "More bubbles, faster, faster!!" and I accommodated her until I nearly hyperventilated from blowing and laughing.

Benito. The "Gary Cooper" of Gorillas. (Male. Born approx.: April 1996) Like the movie actor of yesterday, Benito is a classic, handsome, strong and silent type - a man's man … uh, I mean a gorilla's gorilla. The youngest of the three males, Benito arrived at Limbe with Emma, and spent his first months there in the constant care of his human caregivers, who selflessly gave him 24 hour care and attention. Again, I'm convinced this is the secret to his survival. Whether rough-housing with Chella, Emma or Evindi or playing by himself, Benito doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, uh, arm like the other gorillas at Limbe. He remains a mystery to me. But an incredibly handsome mystery.

All photos by Jane Dewar, May 1999 unless otherwise indicated.

Check out the Limbe Wildlife Centre's web site too!

Also, a special thanks to that was kind enough to allow Jane Dewar to bring over additional luggage with many essential items that Limbe had asked for.

Limbe Update, 1999

28 August 1999                                by Jane Dewar

Word of our fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Limbe Wildlife Centre is finally getting out to zoos – The Dewar Wildlife Trust, Inc. (DWT) is matching each dollar donated to Limbe two to one! So, when a $20 donation is received, the DWT adds $40, making that donation worth $60 to Limbe! Our own family and friends have donated and hopefully others will join in our efforts too.

We just received word that the new chimpanzee enclosure they were building when I visited in May now houses the older chimps at Limbe, who are thrilled to be out of their cramped quarters into a more spacious and fun facility. Suzy (see photo below), the oldest chimp and the oldest resident of the Limbe Zoo (over 15 years) had to re-learn how to walk, run and climb and is in Seventh Heaven with the other chimps, bringing a huge smile to everyone who cares about these special animals.

 

Here’s a photo of the LWC staff wearing the Gorilla Haven t-shirts I brought as gifts:

Top Row (L to R):         Stephen, Jonathan, Wilson, Linda, Tony, Jacob, Andreas
Middle Row (L to R):    Pitchou(!), Bama, Abraham, Antoine, Abel
Bottom Row (L to R):  Evelyn, Victor, Johnson, Joseph

Check out the Limbe Wildlife Centre's web site too!