Remember, in February 2021, J.A.C.K. took part in the largest primate rescue of Africa and, to do so, it was given the support of incredible donors and partners whose trust enabled to its Founders to build wonderful facilities to accomodate these 20 survivors of the endangered species trade!

When the Zimbabwe Monkey Building Project began and when Founder Franck Chantereau learnt more about the species to be rescued, he realized some primates, especially the golden-bellied mangabeys, would need warm facilities.

Note that the city of Lubumbashi where the sanctuary is based is located at about 1400m above sea level. There are two seasons: Summer (rainy season from November till end of April) and Winter (from May till end of October). During the austral African Winter at J.A.C.K., temperatures can drop to 5°C mainly at night and early in the morning. This is how the idea came up to add the building of warm night rooms for each group of primates because some of the new residents do not survive under 12°C.

Thanks to its interest and wish to help, the Gaia Nature Fund  (foundation established by the Gaia Zoo to protect nature) contributed to the construction of a huge night room for 11 golden-bellied managabeys repatritated from Zimbabwe. These little creatures are all endemic to the DRC and do live in warm and humid forests up North of the DRC. The reason why warm night quarters have to be built is that the sanctuary is located in Lubumbashi at a bit more than 1400m above sea level. Temperatures drop quite a lot during the Austral Winter (May till end of October) and some of these primates do not stand temperatures lower than 12°C.

Therefore, with the help of 2 other partners, le ZOO DE LA PALMYRE , PRO WILDLIFE and THOIRY CONSERVATION , construction works of the night room started on April the 15th, 2021 and, on May the 21st, the primates inaugurated their brand new building!

 

The building is made of bricks and rubble stones.

 

The floor contains  heating sheets to keep the area warm during our African Winter.

There are two metallic night rooms ornamented with beds, platforms, drinkers and feeders. The night facility is linked to the playground of the golden-bellieds by means of a tunnel.

 

The golden-bellied mangabeys adjusted quickly to their new environment and they have been very lucky to have been offered these facilities in time, shortly before Winter started!!

The keepers too got used very fast to the new building and new cleaning work. They all were extremely happy the young primates were away from the dropping temperatures.

 

Many thanks again to the Gaia Zoo, its team and very kind Donors for their support which will for sure make a difference for all the golden-bellied mangabeys!

Thank YOU all for THEM!