A young chimpanzee whom I looked after at the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon. I wonder if he remembers seeing his mother murdered in front of him before he was taken from the forest..?
The number of chimpanzees in the wild has dropped steadily since 1960. At one time, over one million chimpanzees inhabited more than 25 countries in Africa. Now, scientists think that there are only 150,000 to 235,000 chimpanzees. Only six African countries have healthy wild breeding populations. Chimpanzee habitat has been destroyed to make farmland, to provide trees for the logging industry, and to build roads. Baby chimps are captured for the illegal pet trade.
Primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall estimates that for each baby chimp taken as a pet, ten other chimps are killed – one mother and several relatives killed protecting the baby. For every ten babies that take the journey oversees in a small closed crate, only one survives the journey. Do the math on that, and it is 100 dead chimps for each one that makes it to the foreign pet trade – alarm bells should be ringing, but sadly they aren’t ringing loudly or quickly enough
This is another beautiful, but sad image Jane. The expression really does make me wonder – does he remember? What a nightmare for a baby to go through.
I wrote this a number of years ago, and it hangs on some of the walls around LWC. It is one of my most popular written pieces oon Redbubble, and I would like to dedicate it to this little one.
Dreaming of Freedom
I remember that dreadful day in time A day when life was once, still mine I remember that day, like no other Snatched from the wild, away from my mother Bundled up, and placed in a crate What was to be, my terrible fate Cold and frightened, alone in the dark On a new journey, I did embark On arrival, I was put into clothes Uncomfortable shoes, confined my toes Put on display, for human pleasure To poke and prod me, at their leisure I was not meant to live, a life behind bars In the uppermost canopy, I could see stars The African rain forest’ s where I should be Living my life as a free chimpanzee
Thank you Jul. And your poem is beautiful too. Thank you for your dedication (in more ways than one…) xxx
Comments
This is another beautiful, but sad image Jane. The expression really does make me wonder – does he remember? What a nightmare for a baby to go through.
I wrote this a number of years ago, and it hangs on some of the walls around LWC. It is one of my most popular written pieces oon Redbubble, and I would like to dedicate it to this little one.
Dreaming of Freedom
I remember that dreadful day in time
A day when life was once, still mine
I remember that day, like no other
Snatched from the wild, away from my mother
Bundled up, and placed in a crate
What was to be, my terrible fate
Cold and frightened, alone in the dark
On a new journey, I did embark
On arrival, I was put into clothes
Uncomfortable shoes, confined my toes
Put on display, for human pleasure
To poke and prod me, at their leisure
I was not meant to live, a life behind bars
In the uppermost canopy, I could see stars
The African rain forest’ s where I should be
Living my life as a free chimpanzee
Thank you Jul. And your poem is beautiful too. Thank you for your dedication (in more ways than one…) xxx
– ApeArt
Beautiful photo
Thanks sheila
– ApeArt
Stunning image, so human.
Thanks :)
– ApeArt
A portrait full of emotion.
Thank you x
– ApeArt
fabulous shot jane, heartbreaking though,dawnx
thanks dawn x
– ApeArt
It is really sad about all these animals.. makes me wonder why people do this… Great Capture and Sad story.. :))
I know what you mean, thank you :))
– ApeArt
what is wrong with mankind ! I could do with less of them an more animals xxx
I totally agree luv xxx
– ApeArt
wonderful image sweetheart, and such a sad story. Beautiful baby. hugsxxx
Thank you darling xxx
– ApeArt