6/9/2014 Monkeying Around

We visited the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation center just outside of Freetown for something exciting to do. It was interesting to say the least. The Kanzlers and the Barneys were the only ones there, so we got our own little tour. This is where they bring chimps from all over the country to reintroduce them back into the wild, if possible, as soon as possible. Most of them come from peoples homes that thought it would be fun to have a monkey for a pet. Surprise...It's not that great. Now what do we do it.
The entire compound is divided into several sections where they separate the chimps according to age and ability to take care of themselves, as they move through the facility they are weened from human contact. There are a few that will never be able to be released for various reasons.
Enjoy these pictures:

 This is the entrance to the sanctuary and also the parking lot.

 Sister Barney and Sister Kanzler on bug watch.

 The signs are all done by hand to save money I suppose.

 Where is everyone??

 One of the buildings...real thatched roof

 Reception and gift center

 Mostly handmade stuff to buy

 Sister Barney signing in B4 the tour can begin....Oh yes $10 american per person.

 Sponsors board.

 Safari Ants hauling stuff through the compound.

 Information board about the chimps (Fact Board)

 Moses, our tour guide. Hes been here for 18 years.

 Cool painting on one of the buildings. I think the same artist

paints everything in the country...it's the style.

 Below us are the teenage chimps. The netting is for airborne projectiles.

Big Rocks 

 Teen in a tree. They cant climb when they first get here,

but they learn real soon.

 Just launched a rock.

 Play area for the new young arrivals and family groups.

 Always time for a snooze.

 Older ones eating. Notice he has a chunk of food in each foot.

 These are the older and almost ready to go chimps. 

They are fed just once a day. the others are fed 4 or 5 times.

They are expected to forage on there own for food.

 One of the many trails.

 Your taxes at work.

 This is a tunnel that the chimps pass through from their sleeping 

area (building) to the forage area.

 Another tunnel for the chimps.

 This is on top of one of the sleeping buildings, and we are looking for the 

chimps that are in the largest area and being prepared for release.

 This is called a "Jack Fruit" and is the size of two basketballs.

They are suppose to be really sweet.

 If your up for an adventure, and want to be up early by chimps 

howling in the jungle, here is a lodge that they rent for $90 American

 Inside is really pretty nice. No electricity, no water.

 There are 3 lodges to rent, and in the middle is a really nice 

barbecue area. 

 Some of the main trails for the worker bees.

 Another information board about other wildlife.

 Waiting hut, Gathering area for tours.

 Inside the gift shop again

 and again

 Where they keep new arrivals to prevent the spread of disease.

Chimps can get most human ailments like colds, measles, etc.

 Trying to get a peek at us. As soon as we made noise, they all started

screaming and carrying on. They always get fed for visitors.

 Playing tag, or looking for rocks, it's hard to tell.

 I kept looking for Tarzan... 

 Play area

 Look Tommy...here is a rock.

 One of the trails. This place feels and smells just like some

of the places that our family use to go backpacking on the 

Oregon coast.