Water for Chimpanzees

The good people of the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) in Cameroon recently built a new water fountain in the chimp nursery. All the babies who come here are orphans whose mothers have been taken by hunters. Limbe gives them a safe, forever home in as natural a setting as possible and water plays a major role in their well being.

“These water points imitates termite hills and, apart from the obvious drinking spot, they are a great enrichment for the animals as they have to work for the water by pressing a hidden button,” explains Head Veterinarian John Kiyang. “Although Gah (the oldest youngster) learned quite quickly how to use it, it took some time for our keeper Killi to teach the two smallest chimps to drink from it.”

The LWC depends on the Limbe metropolitan water supply for cleaning the animals’ enclosures, running baths and basins for the animals’ drinking supply and for washing animal food and food containers. Fresh water in good supply is a must for every day operations of the center. Yet in recent years, the town’s once reliable water supply has become irregular and this puts the animals and staff in a difficult position. Limbe is therefore in the process of building an independent water system for the sanctuary and will need $3,000 for purchasing fuel for the generator to run the water pumps as the electricity supply is not reliable either.

Love Chimps?

See more incredible photos from Limbe and/or donate a bit to help bring in water. Grab your rain boots and visit us here.

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Photo credit: Limbe Wildlife Center

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Andrea A.

3:05AM PST on Jan 21, 2012

Thanks.

send a green star

Linda J.

4:49PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Mahatma Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.

Mary Beth M.

10:42AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

very clever

Ana P M.

9:44AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Good for youi Limbe!!

Pat B.

7:32AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

How marvelous. They band of them appeared to be so calm and curious and the Dad Gorilla was so confident and in charge. We people should have such organized and happy families.

Eternal G.

5:38PM PDT on Sep 4, 2011

Sweet.

Maria P.

2:43PM PDT on Aug 5, 2011

Very sweet story regarding very sweet creatures! (After all, all animals are sweet. I am not so sure about human beings)

corinne c.

1:33PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

It's wonderful having people that care. It's a pity about the parents of these animals as they were hunted by people who don't care. It's a terriible world we live in, thank got some of us are trying to make it better. Thank you

Patricia W.

4:44PM PDT on Jul 31, 2011

Thanks for caring for these apes. They need all the help they can get. It's the least we can do.

Jane H.

10:50AM PDT on Jul 30, 2011

cool