As we celebrate World Parrot Day on May 31st, we at the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) are reminded of the critical role we play in protecting the endangered African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus). The LWC is the first national rescue, rehabilitation, and release programme for the species in Cameroon, which can act as a model of best practice for others. This partnership for wildlife is a testament to the collaboration between Pandrillus Cameroon and Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) for the welfare of trafficked AGPs.

African grey parrots are incredibly intelligent. They are also extremely sensitive, social, can express emotion and have an extraordinary ability to learn and imitate human speech. And it is these characteristics that have resulted in the species being a hugely desired candidate for a pet around the world. Sadly, this makes the African grey parrot one of the most traded birds worldwide. Every year thousands of individuals, mostly adults, are captured and sold at such a high rate that it is causing huge declines in wild populations.

Since 2019, we have made significant progress in our African Grey Parrot rescue, rehabilitation, and soft-release program. Our state-of-the-art facilities and expert care have enables us to rehabilitate up to 300-400 individuals per year, giving them the best chance to be released back into the wild. Our team of local and international animal caretakers, wildlife specialists, and veterinarians work tirelessly to ensure that every parrot receives the highest quality care, including regular health checks and a diet rich in variety.

In March 2024, the LWC collected a large flock of parrots from the Mvog-Betsi Zoo. These parrots have begun their rehabilitation at the LWC, and we look forward to providing our supporters with updates on their progress.

Our soft-release methodology is a unique approach that allows us to gradually reintroduce the parrots into their natural habitat. This process includes providing them with food and shelter in a specially designed aviary within a specially designed release aviary, where they can adapt to their new surroundings before being released.

The conservation of the African Grey Parrot is crucial not only for the species itself but also for the ecosystem as a whole. By rehabilitating and releasing these birds, we are not only giving them a second chance at life but also helping to maintain the balance of their natural habitat.

On World Parrot Day, we would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of community engagement and education. The LWC’s education team are dedicated to spreading awareness about the about the plight of the African Grey Parrot and encourage all to support our conservation initiatives.

At the LWC, we are committed to continuing our rehabilitation and soft-release program, as well as caring for parrots that are unable to be released. You can support our work by sponsoring a parrot or making a donation today.

As we celebrate World Parrot Day, we hope that you will join us in our mission to protect this magnificent species. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the African Grey Parrot continues to thrive for generations to come.

We would like to say thank you to all our individual donors who make monthly contributions to support our work protecting African grey parrots. We would also like to thank our partners the World Parrot Trust, Parrot Wildlife Foundation, Boissière Mervent Conservation, ZGAP and Fondation Brigitte Bardot and wish you all a happy #WorldParrotDay!

On the 22^nd of March 2024, the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) hosted its annual Graduation Ceremony for all the children who had taken part in the 2024 Conservation Education Outreach Programme across the 14 participating schools in Limbe, Batoke, and Bakingili.

The LWC education team organised for 5 buses to collect students directly from their schools and bring them to the Limbe Botanical Gardens (LBG), where the graduation event would be held in the Jungle Village. This year, from the 14 schools, our 3 educators reached 37 classes and a total of 1,850 children – although we anticipate that the impact of our educational outreach is much further than this, as many children also bring friends and family with them to the graduation ceremony.

The theme of this year’s graduation ceremony was zoonotic diseases. Throughout the year, a major focus of our educational outreach has been to protect yourself and your community by avoiding bushmeat and preventing the spread of zoonoses. Outbreaks of zoonotic diseases are on the rise in Cameroon (and globally), so by discouraging the consumption of bushmeat we hope to protect the community and endangered wildlife. Using the One Health approach, we have sensitised the school children about the importance of protecting wildlife and the environment to safeguard our own health and our future. The Reformation Theatre Group came to perform a new and improved theatre play to deliver our message to the children in a fun and engaging way.

The ceremony was a great success, with children expressing their enthusiasm for wildlife and excited to share the knowledge they had gained. By educating young people, we aim to inspire a new generation of passionate wildlife lovers and conservationists. It is through lasting behavioural change towards wildlife and the environment that we hope to secure a better future for Cameroon’s wildlife.

We thank the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the South West (PSMNR-SW), Go Ape Foundation, African Marine Mammal Conservation Organisation (AMMCO), ProWildlife – our partners from the Zoonoses Education Campaign (ZEC), Bioviva Editions Foundation, and Givskud Zoo for making this event and the LWC educational outreach programme possible.

This year, the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since 1993, the LWC has been working tirelessly towards its mission of protecting Cameroon’s unique wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and release, education, and community outreach. The LWC’s work would not be possible without the support of its partners, and Pro Wildlife is one of the longest friendships of all!

Pro Wildlife is a Germany-based non-profit organisation working towards wildlife conservation and animal welfare worldwide. The organization is known for its efforts to combat wildlife crime and enforce animal protection laws. Pro Wildlife was founded in 1999 and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024. Pro Wildlife campaigns for better protection of wildlife, social and ecological sustainability in cooperation with local, national, and international organisations, and works towards maintaining the delicate balance between humans and nature.

Pro Wildlife and the LWC has been working in partnership since 2000. As a sanctuary for Cameroonian wildlife, and a hub of education and community outreach, the LWC’s activities are of interest to Pro Wildlife because… “the sanctuary’s protégés, all of them victims of illegal bushmeat trade, are Ambassadors to combat wildlife crime”, says Executive Director of Pro Wildlife, Andrea Höppner.

“We chose the LWC for a long-term partnership because it offers comprehensive solutions through its education programme and ongoing efforts to provide alternatives to poaching – while ensuring enforcement of species conservation laws by providing shelter for confiscated animals.”

There have been a multitude of projects that have been made possible thanks to the generous financial support through Pro Wildlife. This includes the construction of critical infrastructure such as a chimpanzee nursery, gorilla night dens and enclosures, climbing structures and guenon enclosures, as well as many essential donations such as printers, computers, medication and bandages. Furthermore, Pro Wildlife have also been instrumental in creating educational materials such as poster series that have been used to sensitise visitors for many years.

The Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) recently hosted its annual Green Project workshop in Batoke village on July 27, 2023. LWC, through its community-driven approach, has collaborated with the Batoke community for over 15 years to conserve wildlife and forests. The project also aims to alleviate poverty in the community and improve animal welfare at the wildlife centre.

The workshop

The Green Project workshop reinforced the importance of conservation efforts while explaining the project’s benefits to the rescued animals at the centre. Additionally, it provided LWC with an opportunity to listen to the community’s feedback on project development and improvement. The workshop showcased videos and pictures highlighting the benefits and impact of the project on wildlife conservation. Furthermore, the workshop increased awareness about zoonotic diseases and emphasized the importance of reducing reliance on bushmeat hunting.

As part of the ongoing Transnational African Zoonoses Education Campaign, LWC’s Education Team delivered a presentation about zoonotic diseases and associated risks. The Batoke community eagerly engaged in the learning experience and expressed support for the message discouraging hunting and bushmeat consumption.

Despite the heavy rain, the Green Project workshop achieved significant community participation and was considered a huge success. To celebrate a successful day, a hot meal was served, and everyone enjoyed a drink together. The partnership between the Batoke community and LWC continues to strengthen each year, and future workshops are anticipated.

Every year, infant chimpanzees are stolen from the wild to be sold into the international pet market. Chimpanzees are protected by international law, which makes the capture, killing or trade of chimpanzees or their body parts illegal. Despite this, adult chimpanzees are killed for their meat and body parts, and baby chimpanzees are trafficked internationally to individuals and organisations across the globe. Estimating the number of chimpanzees taken directly from the wild to fuel the illegal pet trade is perhaps an impossible task.

YOU can help by pledging to be a Chimpanzee Champion. By following these DO’s and DO NOT’s, you can help to reduce the demand for pet chimpanzees, and protect wild populations.

DO NOT

• Share, comment on or like photos of chimpanzees or other great apes dressed in human clothes
• Share, comment on or like photos of chimpanzees or other apes in human settings (i.e. inside a house)
• Share, comment on or like photos of chimpanzees or other apes ‘smiling’ or posing for selfies
• Share, comment on or like photos of chimpanzees or other apes clearly being kept as pets
• Go to places that use chimpanzees as a form of entertainment (i.e. photographs, performances)
• Watch movies or tv shows that use chimpanzee “actors”
• Buy cards or other materials with chimpanzees “smiling” or “posing”

DO

• Flag or report imagery and videos on social media that violate these guidelines
• Explain to your friends and family why images of chimpanzees in human settings can be harmful
• Take the pledge to do all you can to protect chimpanzees from being exploited!

World Chimpanzee Day will be celebrated on the 14th of July.