Gwendolyn
Aug 14, 2009
On April 6th 2002, the government of Cameroon, with technical and logistical
assistance from IDA-Africa, confiscated tiny Gwendolyn from behind a restaurant where she was tied alone near a garbage heap. She was malnourished and afraid of everyone. At Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center she was nurtured back to health by loving human surrogate mothers. The friendship of other young orphans, especially Emma and Niete who arrived at the Center about the same time, also helped Gwendolyn thrive and grow strong.
When she got older, Gwendolyn painted some lovely pictures that were auctioned at events to help support her and her family. She really enjoyed creating her artwork.
Since late 2004, she lived in a 25 acre forested enclosure with a large family led by protective adult chimpanzees, including Jacky and Nama. Gwendolyn was kind and gentle – rarely involved in conflict unless it was to try to make peace. She had many chimpanzee friends, including alpha female Nama and older adolescent Cindy. Throughout her life she stayed close to Emma and Niete.
On August 8th, 2009, we found dear Gwendolyn dead in a nest on the ground in the forested enclosure. We are shocked and grieving still. We will remember our sweet Gwendolyn always.
Sanaga-Yong Center manager, Agnes Souchal, wrote a brief account upon finding Gewndolyn: "…All the chimpanzees of her group were surrounding her, touching her, making vocalizations of mild fear like facing a situation they don't understand. Bouboule displayed and pulled her over 2 meters as if to make her move or react. Nama then started to groom her and sit by her with an empty stare. Gweno (as I called her) was the very first chimpanzee I took care of when I came to Sanaga-Yong Center as a volunteer in August 2002. My first contact with a chimpanzee opened a window to a whole new world that I have not since left. Dr. Speede and I were unable to determine the cause of her sudden death. She had not shown signs of illness the days prior. Did she fall? Did she get bitten by a snake or a scorpion? I will always have a special place in my heart for Gweno."
We buried her next to Becky and Dorothy just outside of the forested enclosure she had shared with her family, all of whom were watching as they had done at the burial of Becky and Dorothy.
|
Gwendolyn's burial with her family watching from within
the forested enclosure they had shared. |
 |
Gwendolyn left a family of 66 chimpanzees, all orphans as she had been, who need your support to ensure the care they deserve.
Please help us honor Gwendolyn's life with a gift to her family at Sanaga-Yong Center. The chimpanzees and all of us at IDA-Africa are incredibly grateful for your compassion and support.
$200 provides essential medicine for all chimpanzees for one week.
$150 is the average cost of enclosure maintenance at the Center for one week.
$100 supplies bananas for all chimpanzees for one week.
$45 provides food and medicine for all chimpanzees per day .
$30 is the average cost for medicine for all chimpanzees per day .
Every donation makes a difference. Please give what you can to help ensure the health and safety of the chimpanzees at Sanaga-Yong Center.
With my sincere gratitude,
<< Back
|
