A Place That Holds Water

Keep on Keepin' On

2011-02-09T16:24:00.000-06:00

It has been far far too long. The problem with having a day job is that it gets in the way of my "career", and also, this site. I'm glad to say since I last posted that many new and exciting things have happened at Chimfunshi.

First, Innocent Chitalu Mulenga is now acting Director or the Sanctuary. Not only is he the first Zambian to hold such a position, but he is the first educated in primatology (MSc Primate Conservation, Oxford Brookes University) to hold it. This is great news for the chimps!

Secondly, we have finally created a Scientific Advisory Board. Our goal is to first create the rules and regulations for research at Chimfunshi (almost done!), making sure that they follow along with the requirements of PASA and keep the Chimps healthy, safe, and unharmed. Our Next goal is to streamline the application process. This includes making applicaiton materials readily available for anyone interested in conducting research at Cnimfunshi, as well as informaiton on what it's like to conduct research there. We're also hashing out the research fees. Because let's face it, Chimfunshi is an incrediably brilliant place, and without funding, we can't continue to function. We've been hit by the economy just like everyone else. With some of our funds drying up, the continued and increased interest in research at the sanctuary has been a huge blessing.

We've set regular skype sessions so we're all getting together to stay up to date on what is going on. Hopefully, with these regular sessions, will come regular updates to the blog. I'm going to try to get the rest of the Scientific Advisory Board to post from time to time as well, giving you different viewpoints and perspectives of everything we have going on.

This is just a quick little update to remind you that the blog exists (and to remind myself). I promise to do better from now on!

-Diana

Kigali Trip

2009-03-29T08:40:00.000-05:00

Just early this month I was in Kenya, but now I'm headed for Kigali

Web Site Launched!

2009-03-01T11:23:00.000-06:00

www.chimfunshiresearchandeducationcenter.org/
We've got the website up! It's taken awhile to get it together, and it's not fully complete. You'll notice a few pages have the "Under Construction" label, but you can see where we are hoping to take it. Innocent presented it to the board on Saturday, and we are finishing up the final details.

We've decided to go ahead and get it online for all of you to see as we welcome any and all feedback! We would love to hear from you and what your reaction is to the website. It's not just for us after all, but for you as well! We want to use it to inform and update all the past and future friends of Chimfunshi!

Is there something you'd love to see on the website that isn't there? Is there a section that confuses you? Are you having trouble accessing some of the resources? Let us know and we will do our best to fix it!

We're really excited to have you along as we enter this new age for RaEC!

Moving along slowly

2009-02-17T13:17:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile since I've sat down to this blog. There has been relatively little to say so far. Not that I haven't been busy. I'm putting together the RaEC website, and so far it's slow going. Deciding what exactly needs to be posted, what needs to be made available for download, and how to word it all tends to be slow and tedious work.

I finally hashed out our mission statement, or mission bulletpoints really. They are as follows:

Improve captive conditions for rehabilitated and rescued chimpanzees
Build a worldwide community
Promote a worldwide initiative for Cooperation, Education and Conservation
Face the environmental challenges of today head on

I think these portray the spirit of what we wish to accomplish.

As part of bulletpoints 2 and 3, I have started two new blogs, which will likely sit for sometime before there are new updates for them. Joining our online community of Chimfunshi blogs are the Research blog and the Education blog.

The Ape's Tale is our new research blog, and will soon be home to posts from researchers, field assistants, and volunteers sharing their experiences and insights while conducting research at the sanctuary.

Touching The Moon is the education blog, we hope to keep people posted on the educational activities and opportunities at the sanctuary through this blog. Again, this blog will rely on guest posts from volunteers, students, visitors and sanctuary staff to open a window into the educational aspect of the sanctuary.

Some of you may have noticed that the title of this blog as changed above. The new title comes from the word Chimfunshi. Many people have thought that Chimfunshi came from a melding of the word chimpanzee and the local language, but Chimfunshi was the name of the sanctuary area long before chimpanzees made it there home. In the local language of Bemba, Chimfunshi means "place that holds water". And if you ever visit the sanctuary in the rainy season, you will see just how very true this is!

Muli shani!

2009-01-29T14:55:00.000-06:00

Welcome!
Over the next few months we invite you to follow along as we begin the task of putting together the new Chimfunshi Research and Education Center! We will keep you posted as we go, all the pitfalls, all the triumphs, all the frustrations, and all the joys. We also hope that you will keep us posted on your own ideas and suggestions to improve the reach of the Center.

As with everything we do, our first priority is the chimpanzees. For those of you out there who stumbled onto this by accident, visit the sanctuary website and learn the story behind the founding of Africa's largest chimpanzee sanctuary! www.chimfunshi.org.za

And now let me introduce you to the Research and Education Center team!

Innocent is a native Zambian and after working his way through several careers (preacher, accountant, teacher) he found himself at home at Chimfunshi. In 2006 he attended the MSc in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University. The course not only introduced him to primatologists from all over the world, but inspired him to bring a new mindset back with him to Chimfunshi. Currently Innocent is the Education and Project Manager. Not only does he head up the current Education Center and all its programs, but oversees the welfare of approximately 100 chimpanzees. Innocent hopes to bring behavioral research to Chimfunshi and encourage a melding of Research, Education and Conservation. With the help of his network of primatologists from across the globe, Innocent is beginning to see his dream come to life in the form of the emerging Research and Education Center. One day Chimfunshi will live up to these expectations as a forerunner in chimpanzees rehabilitation and reintroduction.

Diana, after a life long obsession with primates, began her love affair with Africa in Kenya in 2005. Soon after she was studying with Innocent at Oxford Brookes. Innocent invited her to Chimfunshi to conduct her thesis research and she has been making plans to go back ever since. During her time at Chimfunshi, Diana and Innocent began cooking up the early plans of the Research and Education Center. Ideas for future research projects, future education projects, and future conservation goals were common conversations around the campfire at night. And it wasn't long after her return to the US that Diana began in earnest how to bring about their dream. While Innocent kept himself occupied rebuilding enclosures and upgrading a social group to a new location, Diana stayed in touch through text message and emails.

It is now time for Innocent and Diana to begin bringing to life the future of Chimfunshi. Diana, acting as the Research and Education Coordinator, remains mostly in the US with her husband Steve, while Innocent is in Zambia with the chimps. Communication is almost a daily constant. By the time Diana returns to Zambia at the end of the summer, she and Innocent plan to have the digital foundation completely laid for their new Center.

Chimfunshi is proud to offer many experiences for those who wish to be involved with the sanctuary. Research opportunities abound for those scientists looking for a study location, and research assistantships are available to maintain constant data collection at the Sanctuary, as well as education volunteers who welcome to assist in the many new programs that are beginning. For information on any of these options, please contact Diana at researchchimfunshi@gmail.com. If you are interested in short term volunteer positions, email volunteerchimfunshi@gmail.com.

Welcome to our journey and we hope you enjoy the ride!!

Innocent and Diana