|
We are up by 7:00am, packing to leave for Limbe. Unfortunately, one of the team members is sick. There is no medical help for her here in this remote forest, so she has to be transferred out for medical attention.
Limbe is by the sea and in a beautiful area. The place where we are staying is in the Limbe Botanical Gardens and within walking distance to both the town and the Limbe Wildlife Center. This center is a primate rescue centre that is taking care for gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, drills, baboons and smaller monkeys such as guenons and mangabeys. What a wonderful environment to be in. While here, we are to observe and sketch the only captive Cross River Gorilla in the world, which is at the Limbe Wildlife Center.
It is very hot and humid, so the best time to explore is in the morning or late afternoon. Unfortunately, our time is limited and so we are off to visit the Wildlife Center at noon. Thankfully it begins to rain, cooling us on our walk to the Center.
We spend the day studying, taking notes, sketching and photographing the gorillas, in particular Nyango, the female Cross River gorilla. We very much enjoyed watching their social behavior, their feeding behavior and amazing climbing skills. Later back to our place at the ocean, we chat with Arend and Louis about past and future efforts in saving this highly endangered species. It sends shivers down my spine to even think that they may soon become extinct!
After dinner, as we make our way to our room we feel the evening, ocean air fresh against our warm faces. The view is breathtaking! In our little hut, the cool breeze gently blows through the window. As we listen to the distant roll of the waves, the sound lulls us into a fast sleep. Tomorrow will be another amazing day, while we conduct our long awaited "Art Workshop” and give media interviews.
------
The AFC Flag Expeditions Program is a unique program established and operated by the Artists For Conservation Foundation™ (AFC), making possible the artistic field study and rendering of species or habitats deserving of greater public attention. There is a strong emphasis on the study of unique, threatened habitats, and rare or endangered species in remote parts of the world."
 |
Conservation Blog 
Subscribe to this comment's feed