Afrika

A Past Rife With Violence

Afrika was just a few months old when she was discovered by wildlife rangers. The tiny chimp was caged by poachers in a small Ugandan village. Even worse, it’s very likely that Afrika watched the poachers kill her mother and all her family. This is all due to a flourishing, illegal market for baby chimps as exotic pets. Many don’t realize that caring for a baby chimp – while cute – is very difficult and can quickly become unmanageable. Wild animals belong in the wild and never make good pets. The filthy wooden cage the poachers trapped Afrika in provided no room to move or stretch. Dehydrated and very weak, Afrika had sores on her hands and had been surviving on an unbalanced diet of bananas and popped corn.

In November 2007, Afrika was rescued by Born Free and brought to UWEC. Because of her inadequate early diet, Afrika couldn’t climb or move around properly like other infant chimpanzees. Happily, Afrika has adjusted to her new home and is slowly, steadily growing healthy and strong.

Finding Comfort In a New Friend

Afrika has made a new friend! Mac is another baby chimp rescued to the UWEC. He and Afrika have become inseparable and get great comfort from cuddling each other. Normally, baby chimps would constantly hold onto their mothers and family, but Afrika and Mac no longer have their families to hug. Hopefully, with support from each other and from Born Free, little Afrika and Mac will be ready for their new lives in Ngamba very soon.

Sadly, wild apes face many threats. Their forest homes are destroyed by logging companies, and poachers sell baby apes as pets or kill them for bushmeat and tourist souvenirs. Approximately 5,000 chimps are killed every year by poachers, and today, only about 150,000 chimps remain. By adopting her, Brady Communications is helping provide Afrika's daily care and protecting apes worldwide.