Mefou Wildlife Sanctuary

I decided that for my last month in Cameroon I would work at Mefou Wildlife Sanctuary (Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund) just outside Yaounde. I came here to visit during COS Conference, and it was really cool. It is a primate center, filled with mostly chimpanzees and gorillas, but also different kinds of monkeys, baboons, and guenons. Its located in the bush, outside Yaoundé. To get there, it is about a 30 min drive on paved roads, then about another 30 min on a one lane dirt road. The road is pretty rough, but not as bad as mamfe. It is also far enough away from the capital that there is no electricity or phone network.
I left mamfe after saying my goodbyes, and came directly here. I didn’t really know what to expect when I came, but since all of the animals are rescued in some way, I knew I was working for a good cause. After taking a tour, and learning my way around, I started work with the other 5 volunteers, from all over the world. The vet is from Israel, and other volunteers are from Belgium, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Since then, we have had another volunteer arrive from Denmark and 2 from Australia. My first main job was to get to know the chimpanzee babies. There are 4 babies, under 1 ½ years that were rescued recently. Song (m.) lived at a construction site, where he was attacked by dogs and cats and never fed. The vet said he would have only lived for another week, if he had not come. Kazi (m.) was kept as a pet, and had a metal chain tied around his waist. Now and then the owners would feed him. As he grew, the chain did not, so it grew into his body. He had to have surgery when he first arrived. Mboke (f.) arrived in a cardboard box, malnourished and suffering. Bubbaleh (f.) was born on the reserve, but her mother was too young to care for her, and dragged her around by one leg. I became mother to Song and Kazi. The babies need full time care, including formula every 3 hours during the night. When I became a mother, the two moved in with me, and slept in baskets on the floor next to my bed. I took them everywhere with me (even the bathroom), and fed them throughout. They are so cute, I can understand why people want chimps as pets, but they are a lot of work. It’s very similar to being a real mother. I would wake up at 3am to babies crying and I would have to give them milk, and hold them until they fell asleep. The difference is that the chimps are much more active. its like having a baby and a toddler, all in one. it was a great experience though, and a lot of fun.
My next job was to work in the forest, with the older set of chimpanzee babies. These ones were between 1 ½ and 3 years. They are a lot bigger, a lot rougher, and a lot more active. They slept at night in a satellite cage (in case of a soldier ant attack), but during the day we played in the forest. it was really fun watching these babies climb trees and play together. it was not as fun, when they jumped from the trees onto my head, or pulled my hair. I have quite a few bites and scratches, and I’ve lost a significant amount of hair, but I would laugh at their antics. I worked with a Chadian man, Sanda, and we watched the babies and discussed many different things, all in French. I have lots of pictures of the babies playing. The best part was what we called the “chimp train” or “chimp chain”. (I still cant decide which I prefer). the babies form a little congo line and walk together. In nature, this signifies an attack, but in the baby chimps, its adorable to watch.
I have since left the reserve, and I’m on my way back to Mamfe, to visit one last time. I will be sure to show pictures when I get home!

For more information about the reserve, go to apeactionafrica.com