This past winter, Dr. Rebeca Atencia (director of the Jane Goodall Institute in Congo and head of JGI’s Tchimpounga sanctuary), received a call from the Ministry of Water and Forestry to report that a baby chimpanzee had been confiscated. For Rebeca, though these calls are never ones she wants to receive, it was bittersweet relief to know that this young creature will be safe under her and the JGI staff’s care. This baby was about to find a new life and a second chance at Tchimpounga. His name is Vienna. Vienna was named after the JGI Global meeting which was…
Author: Fernando Turmo
Fernando Turmo
Fernando Turmo is the Jane Goodall Institute’s Image and Communications Coordinator and is based at JGI's Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo. After working as an illustrator and designer in his home country of Spain, Fernando joined JGI in 2006 and became the resident photographer and videographer at Tchimpounga. Fernando loves bringing the stories of Tchimpounga’s chimpanzees to life through photos and video for all of JGI’s supporters. One of Fernando’s favorite moments that he captured on film was the chimpanzee Wounda giving Dr. Jane Goodall a hug after being released onto Tchindzoulou Island.
Binda is a female who is about fifteen years old. She is a large, slender chimpanzee who prefers to observe her group from the sidelines rather than get involved in any disputes. However, Binda is still highly respected by the other individuals in the group. Even though everyone knows that Binda is usually quiet and reserved, they are aware that when Binda gets angry you have to be careful! Binda is very strong, and will not hesitate to lash out and hit or bite when she is annoyed. Since arriving at the JGI’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center when she was…
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The time has arrived! For many years, the Jane Goodall Institute in the Republic of Congo has been working toward the transition of many of the chimpanzees from the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center’s original site to our island sanctuary sites. Dr. Rebeca Atencia, the director and head veterinarian of Tchimpounga, other staff and caregivers have been working on this meticulous process for a very long time, selecting chimpanzees that are good candidates for the transfer based on a number of factors. Each individual has been observed in their daily life and in their relationships with others. Over this period, many…
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Lounama is one of the lucky chimpanzees living at the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga sanctuary who was relocated to Tchibebe Island, one of Tchimpounga’s three new island sanctuary sites. She has a calm and sociable demeanor and gets along well with many of the other chimpanzees. She is also a favorite with the staff, even having a gentle manner with her human caregivers. Lounama integrated well with the chimpanzee group that has already spent some on Tchibebe. Despite her smooth transition, in recent months, Lounama has not been well. She has shown signs of fatigue and pro-gastric issues. The staff saw her…
