Newsletter: Spring 09

Sarah helps the chimps

This August, Sarah, our head nurse, will be leaving us for a short while to put her nursing skills to good use! Sarah will be volunteering at Chimfushi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia working with orphaned chimpanzees. Chimfunshi is a non-profit orphanage for chimpanzees who have been injured or left homeless as a result of the illegal bush meat trade and pet industry. Although illegal, thousands of chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobo monkeys are hunted and killed every year to be sold as food in meat markets throughout West and Central Africa - their heads and hands being sought after trophies.

Chimpanzee babies who survive the hunting ordeal are often sold as pets, zoo animals, or circus performers, while some wind up in medical research labs. During her four-week stay on site, Sarah will be assisting in the day to day care of the resident chimps and learning how we can make a difference, all the while taking in the beautiful surroundings of Zambia.

For more information on Chimfunshi or to find out how you can help, visit www.chimfunshi.org.za.