Letter from Recipient Paul Nyenje
Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation
Trust, Entebbe, Uganda
1st June 2009
The Director, The Shape Of Enrichment
re: Appreciation
Dear Madam,
I
am very grateful that you made it possible for me to attend the Animal Keepers
Association of Africa Symposium and Enrichment Workshop and do appreciate so
much your encouragement and the interest you showed in promoting enrichment and
animal welfare.
In
the three days, I learnt a lot about enrichment and animal husbandry and I am
certain that I gained more knowledge in animal care by using the different
enrichment tools. I am ready and willing to learn more and put into practice
all I learnt for the betterment of the chimpanzees at Ngamba Island and general
wildlife conservation. Achievements and skills I gained:
¥ Environmental enrichment skills
and appreciated it as the best kind of enrichment
¥ Provision of social and food
enrichment to primates, especially chimpanzees that are social animals
¥ Problem-solving of abnormal
patterns of behaviour in animals under human care
¥ Enrichment and Neo-phobia, that
is, avoiding enrichment that frightens if itÕs too much
¥ The five freedoms of animal
welfare
¥ Hygiene and pest control which
have effect on nutrition and health of the animals
¥ Caution and considerations during
enrichment, because some enrichment materials can be harmful or dangerous to
the animals
¥ Safety and health of the keepers
¥ Integration and introduction
We
modified our feeding patterns by introducing new methods like cutting the food
in small pieces so as to increase chances of even food distribution.
Following
the presentation of the Boomer Ball¨ to the baby chimpanzees from
Ngamba, the two, Afrika and Baron, got an added enrichment tool. They have
adapted quite well to it. Baron tosses and kicks it with the hands. Africa
stands on it and gains balance. Since it also has water in it, they like
shaking it. However, Baron being the dominant over Africa, he doesnÕt allow
Afrika to use it most of the time.
Lastly,
I take this opportunity to thank you for all the new techniques of enrichment,
the sponsorship to the AKAA symposium 2009, the Boomer Ball¨ given
to the sanctuary chimpanzees and the commitment to cause of enrichment
husbandry.
With warm regards and pant hoots,
Paul Nyenje
Chimpanzee Sanctuary And Wildlife Conservation Trust
(CSWET), Entebbe, Uganda
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