Chimps candidates for China

[Guest guest]

These chimps may be candidates for export to China. It seems to me that all

of them have already suffered enough in this lifetime. The facility

announces that it is seeking donations and volunteers.

 

See http://www.uweczoo.org/bio/chimpanzee.html

 

Profile Information: Ruth

 

Ruth was confiscated with another chimpanzee called Amina, from Entebbe

Airport on 6th January 1989. It has been impossible to trace where they

both came from and where they were going to, but they were definitely being

sent overseas by illegal traders. Ruth was estimated be about 4 years old

at the time.

Amina and Ruth have a very close bond, which may be the result of going

through a very frightening time together prior to their rescue. However,

they settled in well with the rest of the chimpanzees at Uganda Wildlife

Education Centre (UWEC). Ruth gave birth to a baby on 14th October 1998.

Unfortunately, she could not produce enough milk, and attempts were made to

separate her and the baby, so that the keepers could supplement feed the

baby. This was unsuccessful and the baby was put to sleep on 24th October

1998. This was a very stressful time for her.

 

Profile Information: Matoke

 

Matoke was confiscated from Kilembe by Ruwenzori National Park officials.

It is suspected that he was originally brought to Uganda from the

Democratic Republic of Congo. He was taken to Mweya at the Queen Elizabeth

National Park and then transferred to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

(UWEC) on 24th June 2000.

Matoke was in poor condition and infested with lice when he arrived at

UWEC and would only eat bananas. This was how he got his name - from the

Ugandan word for bananas. Matoke was initially bathed with lice shampoo,

but escaped and went missing for 3 days. Keepers finally found him near the

gate of the chimp exhibit. The chimps were very curious about him. After a

period of special care, Matoke was successfully introduced to the UWEC

chimp group in September 2000. He now eats a regular, varied chimpanzee

diet and although he is small, always gets a good share of food.

 

Profile Information: Kigogoro

 

Kigogoro was found in Kasese in January 1970 and handraised by a Ugandan

doctor. She was then taken to Entebbe Zoo on 8th September 1976. When

Kigogoro first arrived at the Zoo, she lived in a cage with a concrete

floor, next to four other chimps. However, when Entebbe Zoo became the

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in 1994, an exhibit was built for

the chimpanzee group and they now live together in a naturalistic setting.

Kigogoro has produced one baby with Zakayo and this infant was given to

the government of Korea [WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ONE, WHETHER

HE/SHE WAS " REJECTED " AND WHERE IN KOREAN HE/SHE ENDED UP] . She is very

protective of new and young chimpanzees and is very gentle with them. She

does not fight for food and does not like conflict. One of her little

fingers is missing, but it is not known for sure how this happened.

 

Profile Information: Zakayo

 

Zakayo is the alpha male in the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)

chimpanzee group. He was found in June 1972 at Semliki, in the Bundibugyo

district of Uganda, and was handraised. Zakayo was then surrendered to

Entebbe Zoo on 10 June 1976 as he was becoming difficult for his carer to

manage.

When he first arrived at UWEC, he lived in a cage with a concrete floor,

next to four other chimps. Visitors would offer him cigarettes and alcohol

and tease him, making him very angry. When Entebbe Zoo became the Uganda

Wildlife Education Centre, an exhibit was built for the chimpanzee group

and they now live together in a naturalistic setting. Zakayo has sired

seven offspring to date and is very protective and fatherly towards the

younger chimps.

 

Profile Information: Amina & Yankee

 

Amina was confiscated with another chimpanzee called Ruth, from Entebbe

Airport on 6th January 1989. It has been impossible to trace where they

came from and where they were going to, but illegal traders were definitely

sending them overseas. Amina was estimated to have been about 5 years old

at the time.

Amina and Ruth have a very close bond, which may be the result of going

through a very frightening time together prior to their rescue. They have

settled in well with the rest of the chimpanzees at Uganda Wildlife

Education Centre.

 

Amina gave birth to a baby female, Yankee, with Zakayo on 18th July 2000.

Amina is a good mother and looks after her baby well.

 

Profile Information: Kitomi

 

Kitomi was confiscated near the Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve in Western

Uganda. He was taken to Mweya at Queen Elizabeth National Park, before he

was flown to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) on 11th November

1999. He was estimated to be 5 years at the time.

Kitomi had many psychological and physical problems, as he had been

severely mistreated before he was confiscated. He had a chain attached

around his waist, that had caused deep wounds and he was in poor body

condition. Although, he disliked human presence and tried to get away from

the keepers, he was happy being with the other chimpanzees. It will take a

long time for his psychological wounds to heal, but he is slowly learning

to accept the humans at UWEC as his friends and not his enemies.