Animal Welfare - Animal Protection -
Animal Rights
Kumasi Zoo Chimpanzees
Afua
approx. 20+ years old
Cecelia
approx. 30+ years old
Updated February 5, 2005
A recent visit to the Kumasi Zoo brings wonderful news! The girls
are together and have been since last August with no problems at
all! They both have enclosures connected and open so that they
can go anywhere they want. The keeper says they are sleeping together
and they are not really trying to break out anymore. Now we can
work on some additional enrichment for them, some physical additions
to the cages and feeding, etc.
Afua
and Cecelia are two female chimpanzees that live at the government-run
zoo in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. We became acquainted with
these two chimps while living in Ghana. We observed the small,
barren, old-fashioned enclosures they were living in, and the
isolation that both of these normally-social beings suffer due
to their separation from each other (they are the only two chimpanzees
in this zoo). Their enclosures are concrete and steel bars, and
their environment is sterile and un-stimulating. While physically
healthy, Afua and Cecelia have spent their entire lives alone
in these conditions, without any social interaction or basic
environmental stimulation. They can be expected to live until
the age of 50.
Many
studies and actual field experience indicate that the incorporation
of environmental stimuli for captive chimpanzees can greatly
enhance these animals' psychological and physiological well-being.
An enrichment program for these two chimps would include modification
of the enclosures (or construction of an entirely new enclosure),
miscellaneous modifications of environmental and dietary factors,
and re-socialization of the two chimpanzees. Re-socialization
involves gradually increasing their contact with each other until
it is possible to allow them to live together and become companions.
Such efforts have been extremely successful in sanctuaries and
zoos around the world.
We
began efforts to implement this environmental enrichment program
for Afua and Cecelia while we were living in Ghana, receiving
approval and assurances of cooperation and participation from
the Executive Director of the Ghana Wildlife Division (agency
responsible for running the zoo). Unfortunately, as is tragically
common in most developing countries, the Ghana Wildlife Department
itself has no funds available for the needed improvements.
IPPL
(International Primate Protection League) offered a challenge
grant of up to US$1,000 for the Kumasi Zoo Chimpanzee Environmental
Enrichment Program, Kumasi, Ghana. http://www.ippl.org/
WE
THANK DR. CAROLE NOON AND THE CENTER FOR CAPTIVE CHIMPANZEE CARE http://savethechimps.org FOR
YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF $1,000 TO MEET OUR CHALLENGE GRANT!
Thank
you all for your contributions and construction began March 22,
2003 and is now completed! Afua should be moving over to the
new enclosure July/August 2003.
**We
are thrilled to say that the construction of the new enclosure
has been completed (October 2003) except for a few minor reinforcements.
Cecelia unfortunately likes to take a walk about the zoo grounds
now and again so some of the bars need to be reinforced further.
The gals have been introduced to each other and they got along
wonderfully from the start! After living several decades in separate
enclosures at the zoo, they are finally companions. I would like
to thank the support of the Ghana Wildlife Division for all their
approval for this project. Pictures to follow shortly of the
two girls finally together as roommates. Efforts for regular
environmental enrichments will continue.
Afua
in her old enclosure
Cecelia's
Old Enclosure
Their
enclosures are approximately 100 yards from each other
