A New Arrival at Tchimpounga

At the end of April, Tchimpounga staff members welcomed a new arrival:  a baby girl named Anzac.  She was named Anzac because she came to the sanctuary on ANZAC Day (April 25, 2012)*, and because, like many war veterans, she had lost an arm.

When she arrived, Anzac was so small that the vet team had to weigh her using a food scale.  She weighed a mere 2.7 kilograms, making her one of the smallest chimps to arrive at the sanctuary.

Anzac was confiscated in a town called Mossaka up north along the Congo River.  At this point, because the vet team has not done a full genetic analysis, it is not clear if Anzac is from the Republic of Congo or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Anzac was confiscated by the Mossaka police and cared for and escorted to Tchimpounga by staff from The Aspinall Foundation.  It’s exciting news to learn that police in the northern towns are starting to do confiscations because in the past the laws have not always been enforced.

You can help chimpanzees like Anzac by becoming a Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Guardian.

*ANZAC Day is observed primarily in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate those who fought and died in wars.