LWIRO Primate Rehabilitation Centre

The Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Danger, is seriously affected by degradation, along with the local populations who, for reasons of survival, have depended more on natural resources in protected areas and their surrounding forests.  It is estimated that the DRC contains 93% of the population of Eastern Chimpanzee, making it the most important country for the conservation of this sub-species.

The Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL) is a Pan African Sanctuary Alliance accredited primate sanctuary for chimpanzees and monkeys, located just outside the border of Parc National de Kahuzi Biega (PNKB).  As the only sanctuary in the region, they play a crucial role in supporting conservation measures in the Parc and the eastern DRC. 

CRPL are also supporting the local community by injecting more than $4000 per month into the community, by purchasing food for all their animals and workers from local markets, and by providing long-term job positions for 48 local workers.

Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild has donated £39,602.56 to LWIRO since 2013. In 2023, we will be making an additional contribution of £4,858.50 to help continue providing the best care possible to victims of poaching and pet trade in DRC.

The LPRC is currently home to 123 chimpanzees, 110 monkeys of 16 different species and 46 grey parrots (110 have been released the last two years).

Our assistance will help us ensure the welfare of the primates, through a quality diet, medical care and appropriate environment to develop their natural skills; by helping provide high quality alimentation for the primates in their care. About 4 tonnes of food is bought every week from local farmers around Lwiro.

AFTW will contribute – £360/week for five weeks towards potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, beans, corn, onion, avocados and bananas. AFTW will contribute – £ 520/week for six weeks towards different types of flours: corn farina, soya farina and sorghum farina to make the pap that completes every night primates’ diet, avocados, mangoes and pineapples
 

The short term goals of the CRPL are to ensure the welfare of the primates in their care and to increase the holding capacity of the sanctuary for future government confiscations.  The ultimate goal of all partners at the CRPL is to see the release of all able-bodied animals back into the wild. They will also work towards a continuous reduction in the number of primates being killed, therefore reducing the number of new arrivals to CRPL, and ensuring local wild populations remain stable through habitat protection and improved attitudes toward their protective status through education and public awareness campaigns.