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the ORIGIN OF ORPHANS
- The bushmeat trade
Hunting for bushmeat in most of West Africa is a
tradition which has been part of daily life for 100's of years. However,
the vast majority of hunting for bushmeat is no
longer for subsistence (i.e. food to feed the family) but rather a cash
economy. Rural communities supply bushmeat to urban traders for
financial gain. However, it still can be a source of livelihood (bottom
left selling bushmeat in Iko Esai) and meat for isolated rural
villagers, and hunting for local consumption and sustenance of some
species is sustainable, and encouraged.
It must be emphasized, however, that
commercial hunting of species which reproduce slowly can never be
sustainable** and not only creates an 'empty forest syndrome', it
also creates large numbers of
orphaned primates; nursing infants, orphaned when their mothers are shot
for meat. Most of these orphans end up living miserable lives as village
pets (top left); many perish from their wounds or from inappropriate care. Those
who come to CERCOPAN are the lucky ones, most often donated as a result
of discussion and heightened awareness, but occasionally confiscated by
wildlife officials.
CERCOPAN's ORPHANS
The majority of CERCOPAN's over 130 primates are orphans,
by-products of the bush meat trade. Over the past 10 years, a
nation-wide network has developed in Nigeria through contact with the
Cross River National Park and State Forestry Departments, and visitors
to CERCOPAN. It is through this network that orphans or unwanted pets
are identified
On average, 1-2 primates arrive at the
centre every month; some of these have been in captivity for many
years, while others may only have been away from their mothers for a
matter of days. More and more, primates are donated by concerned owners
who have heard about CERCOPAN's programme. We have had many donations as
a direct result of our school outreach programme.
**We are also carrying out training and support for alternative
livlihoods for people in our host community and this assistance is vital
for lboth ocal support and well being. |
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QUARANTINE AND
REHABILITATION
Once a newly arrived primate has
cleared all tests during a rigorous 3 month quarantine period, the
process of social rehabilitation begins. First, individuals must learn
to become part of a group with their own species. Some can take up to a
year before they are fully versed in the social behaviours required of
normally functioning members of a dynamic social group. Others,
particularly young animals, adapt within days, soon forgetting their
human surrogate families. Daily behavioural monitoring evaluates
progress of individuals and changes in dominance hierarchy, as well as
facilitating early identification of any illness.
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