PHOTO: The present sanctuary at the former LIBR where the Chimps live
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection Organization (LCRP) has been commended for rescuing and protecting Chimpanzees in the country.
The Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection is the first and only combined Chimpanzee sanctuary, protection, and Conservation organization in Liberia rescuing Chimpanzee who are victims of illegal bush meat and live pet trade. The rescued Chimpanzee are also rehabilitated.
The commendation was made when the LCRP was honored and certificated by the Wildlife and Conservation Reporters Network of Liberia.
The new sanctuary under construction
Presenting the award to the organization, the National Coordinator of the network, Joseph S. Wiah lauded the LCRP for its contributions to the wildlife and conservation development of Liberia. According to Wiah, the protection of the country’s wildlife is cardinal to the growth and development of the country and pleaded with Liberians to stop killing and trading protected animals as well as using them as pet. He thanked the founders of LCRP Jimmy and Jenny Desmond for the passion, dedication and commitment to improve the lives of chimpanzees, both wild and orphaned in Liberia.
Taking Journalists on a tour of the chimpanzee sanctuary located at the former Liberia Institute of Biomedical Research in Charleville, Jimmy Desmond said the chimps are feed regularly and their health are also taken care off as well. He said the facility was build several years ago and could no longer provide a safe home to the chimpanzees and there is a need to relocate the animals to a new home.
The new sanctuary under construction
Reporters were also taken on a tour of the new home that is under construction. The land is located in Marshall several kilometers away from the present sanctuary.
Speaking to reporters, the co-founder, Jenny Desmond disclosed that the LCRP with support from her partners, purchased a 25-year lease of 100 acres of forest land from the local community on Marshall, lower Margibi County that has been earmarked as the future home of the chimps when completed. She further indicated that the land is forest wetlands with vast mangrove and unique biodiversity. The area is a proposed protected area with long security and ecotourism potentials, she averred.
WCRN National Coordinator Joseph Wiah
and LCRP founders Jenny and jimmy
The New York Blood Center (NYBC) abandoned about 66 chimpanzees who had been retired from medical research and were facing starvation on islands that they were taken for refuge.
In addition to these abandoned chimps, the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue Project in collaboration with the confiscation unit of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) confiscated baby chimps that were sold as pet and taken to the sanctuary. Bush meat trade in Liberia is a major commercial activity.
The Forestry Development Authority is challenge in ensuring that the laws forbidding the trade of protected animals are implemented. Jimmy Desmond founder of the LCRP was also honored as outstanding Veterinarian of the year 2020.