Two New Babies Have Found
Safe Haven At Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center!
In June, two-year-old Kanoa was confiscated in Cameroon's West Province during the arrest of a dealer, who was attempting to sell him to undercover agents. Ofir Drori's Last Great Ape Organization provided logistical assistance to the government for the undercover operation and later delivered terrified little Kanoa to Dr. Sheri Speede in the city of Yaounde. The baby suffered from a badly infected compound fracture of the bones in his lower leg among other wounds, which all probably occurred during the hunt that killed his mother. Dr. Speede and volunteer veterinarian Gwendolen Reyes-Illig treated his injuries successfully and after two months of healing, Kanoa was integrated with babies Anita, Selma, Milou and Margot. Anita, the oldest in the group, nurtures him and carries him much of the time, whether she likes it or not. Kanoa was happy to be back in the forest and immediately joined the others playing in the trees. The name Kanoa, which means "the free one" in Hawaiian, was aptly chosen for our little wild boy by IDA-Africa friend Angela Osborne and her family.
In August, a catholic priest delivered recently orphaned eight-month-old Carla to Sanaga-Yong Rescue Center. The dehydrated young infant had been given to the priest the day before by a hunter who thought she would die because she refused to eat. With the right kind of baby milk formula and specialized care at our Rescue Center, Carla quickly regained her good health. For now she is with her human caregivers around the clock, visiting with other baby chimpanzees from the safety of her surrogate's arms. When she is a little older, she'll learn to live full time with the other babies. Carla was named by gracious French supporters Francine and Jean-Pierre Bonacorsi, after their grandson Carl.
Welcome Kanoa and Carla!
