Limbe Wildlife center Cameroon

The Limbe Wildlife Center (LWC), a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation project situated in the South West Region of Cameroon, was started in 1993 by the Pandrillus Foundation, a conservation NGO, and the Government of Cameroon. Since this time it has become home to a variety of critically endangered wildlife species including the ellioti chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), the drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus), the western lowland (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Cross River (G.g.diehli) gorillas, several species of long-tailed monkeys, including the locally endemic guenon (Cercopithecus preussi), and various reptile and bird species. All of the wild animals rescued by the LWC are victims of the illegal trades in bush-meat and pets. Typically a nursing mother, often a primate, will be shot by a hunter and butchered for bush meat. Her young offspring, not having a value as a source of meat, will be kept alive and taken from the forest and offered for sale as a pet. At some point in this cycle the LWC will be made aware of the illegally sold pet and, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will instigate a seizure. On arrival at the LWC the young animals are often in a terrible condition and require specialist veterinary care. Once they have been stabilized young primates will spend three months in quarantine after which they will be carefully introduced into a social group with other members of their own species. Non-primate species, such as birds, reptiles or small mammals (civet cats etc.) are sold to local and foreign buyers for pets and safari parksIn 2008 the Limbe Wildlife Center rescued 14 primates (2 chimpanzees and 12 long-tailed monkeys) and 70 non-primates. However the year 2007 will be remembered as the year that 5 gorillas and 1220 African Grey parrots arrived within a single 2 week period. In the LWC, animals are also breeded especially birds such as parrots and other tropical birds.