Marienberg, Cameroon

January 2025

“Water lily, star… Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” It’s lunchtime in the monkey paradise, a string of forested islands on Cameroon’s Sanaga River, transformed into a sanctuary for endangered chimpanzees.

From his pirogue, Fabrice Moudoungue has only to bend his ear to recognize the cries of the semi-autonomous animals.

The Papaye International carer knows each of the sanctuary’s 34 chimpanzees like family: “We spend all our time, every day with them,” he confides happily.

On the daily menu: tomatoes, bananas, coconuts and even dates. The man in charge of the islands’ chimpanzees is greeted with excitement by the primates. A privileged relationship with this normally fearful ape, nurtured by daily contact and care.

Approaching the island of Yatou, François Elimbi, the sanctuary manager, is greeted by the arms of Miel, a female released in 2019 after around 10 years of care.

“You can’t explain it, it’s very strong, it even gives you goose bumps when you see a monkey giving you a hug. It means he still recognizes you, you’re his friend”, he interprets, moved by the gesture of the hairy black beast, so close to humans.

Chimpanzees share “98% common DNA with humans”, argues Marylin Pons Riffet, President of Papaye International, who travels between France and Cameroon to defend an animal “endangered in the wild world” because of a single predator, man.

– Orphans –

The species is extremely threatened by the disappearance of its habitat and by poaching, its flesh being consumed despite bans.

Between Nigeria and Cameroon, there are “between 1,200 and 2,400 specimens”, according to the association dedicated to rescuing “orphaned chimpanzees who are young and need the helping hand of man”.

On three islands, the aim is to provide a serene environment and meet the physiological needs of these animals, which could no longer survive alone in the wild.

Still too young for the autonomy of the islands, Tchossa and Conso play, enjoy a swing and sleep in hammocks in a large cage installed near the caregivers’ living quarters.

Alioum Sanda, one of the caregivers, has taken to heart the role of “surrogate mother” for these little furballs, especially for Conso, a mischievous little monkey aged around 6.

“I’d put diapers on him, wipe him down with the wipes. When there were wounds, we tried to heal them until they were healed,” he recounts, pointing to scars from the violence inflicted on the little one, who was still very young when his mother was killed by poachers.

It’s a painstaking and essential task for the man who refuses to see the presence of chimpanzees reduced to a memory: “We must try to preserve them so that our future generations will also see this species.”

Founded in 2001, the association financed by 30 millions d’amis and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation regularly welcomes eco-volunteers from all over the world.

HUMANITERRE WITH AFP