After living in a tiny basket for five days, without food or water or comfort, our seventh orphan can barely open his eyes. They're unfocussed, and his body is limp like a rag doll. He can't even cry out - just squeak. His body is covered in cuts and abrasions and his mouth and teeth are singed from the hot knife the hunters put inside his mouth to dull his teeth.
This basket was our orphan's home for five days. He couldn't stretch his legs or sit up, and he sat inside it in his own filth without respite of air or clean.
Here the two hunters are taken away by the police, who were summoned by the Minister of the Environment in Aketi. They're still in prison now, unable to pay the tax for killing the chimpanzee's mother -- chimpanzees are legally a protected species in DRCongo.
There are no repercussions, however, for their treatment of the infant. When he was clearly suffering and close to death, their first impulse was to try and sell him.
He is barely hanging onto life now. If he lives, he will be in quarantine for the next 4 weeks and then join the other chimpanzees at the sanctuary.
1 comment:
Laura,
That is so sad, its heartbreaking. I can't imagine individuals inflicting such harm on a animal. Wow its one thing to learn of such acts, and I can only imagine what you must be going through. You must posses an inner strength that most admire. Keep up the good work. Please tell my buddy Adam I said hello. Take care of yourself and keeping posting, I really enjoy reading about your experiences and have absorbed a lot of knowledge.
Thanks,
Donna
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