News from the Lwiro Orphanage

Since the commencement of large-scale animal confiscations in the Bukavu area, a place has been urgently needed to care for them. Although the facilities are not ideal, an orphanage has been set up at the Lwiro research station.
According to the ICCN/GTZ (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature/Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit - German Society for Technical Co-operation) project at Kahuzi-Biega, the orphanage housed in October 2003 34 animals: 12 chimpanzees, 1 bonobo, as well as Cercopithecus mitis, C. ascanius, C. pogonias, Lophocebus albigena, Chlorocebus aethiops, baboons, 2 snakes and 3 birds. Many animals have already died there: 2 gorillas, 3 chimpanzees, 4 monkeys, 1 snake and 1 falcon. The orphanage is presently supported mainly by the GTZ project, and in 2003 it received financial support from IPPL (International Primate Protection League) and the Born Free Foundation; the Jane Goodall Institute and PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) provided technical and administrative support and share their experience in medical treatment and feeding.
The present problems are that there is not enough space in the building at Lwiro; the budget is still too small for equipment, medical treatment, hygiene and adequate motivation of the staff, and that the staff do not have enough experience.

By the end of May 2004, 3 confiscated gorillas died in Lwiro as the facilities did not allow appropriate care for these very sensitive animals.
 

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