Three young chimpanzees that were discovered without food or water at an abandoned captive facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached safety at a sanctuary today, following a two-month effort by the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and a coalition of conservation and welfare organizations.

The chimpanzees – two males and a female, all believed to be between three and five years of age – arrived at the JACK sanctuary in Lubumbashi, where they will ultimately join the 29 orphaned chimpanzees already in residence.

PASA worked closely with organizations in the region to coordinate the rescue, including the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP), the African Conservation Foundation (ACF), Virunga Park, and the Congolese wildlife authority (ICCN).

The rescue and transfer of the chimpanzees was funded primarily by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) – UK, with assistance from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund’s Rapid Response Fund, the Columbus Zoo, and PASA.

“This was a very difficult transfer that required coordination and cooperation between so many organizations,” said Doug Cress, executive director of PASA. “It’s not easy to move three chimpanzees over 1,000 miles, and every step – from building shipping crates to conducting health checks to building new enclosures – had to be done under extreme pressure. But PASA is committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of primates across Africa, and we are fortunate to have partners who share that vision.”

The chimpanzees were discovered in late December at Suena, a small captive facility in eastern DR Congo, along with two older chimpanzees and a pair of monkeys. None of the primates had received food or water for days, and several were extremely sick and weak.

Founded in 2005 by South Africans Pieter and Sumarita Boshoff, Suena at one time had as many as 12 primates in its care. The Boshoffs are believed to have left DR Congo.

The monkeys were sent to the nearby Lwiro sanctuary in January, and will be joined there by the older chimpanzees in the near future.

JACK is a chimpanzee sanctuary established in 2006 on the grounds of the Lubumbashi Zoo. JACK works closely with PASA on a variety of projects, and is in the process of applying for PASA membership.

PASA which was formed in 2000 to coordinate rescue and rehabilitation efforts among primates sanctuaries in Africa. For more information, please visit the PASA website, the PASA Primates Facebook page, Twitter, or contact info@pasaprimates.org.

The Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) has released the PASA Operations Manual, a 134-page guidebook to modern sanctuary management that addresses everything from staff size to veterinary care and is the result of nearly two years’ work.

The PASA Operations Manual replaces the original PASA Handbook, which had grown outdated since its original publication in 2002.

PASA advisory board member Dr. Kay Farmer served as the lead editor of the PASA Operations Manual, and she worked with contributors, experts, and editors in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. The project was supported by PASA, in association with the University of Stirling in Scotland and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).

“This manual reflects a decade of accumulated experience and knowledge from the African sanctuary community,” Farmer said. “We have produced a document and a system that confirms PASA member sanctuaries exemplify excellence, and are providing primates with the best possible care. We believe that as long as the profession is guided by these standards, the work of the sanctuary community will be increasingly respected and recognized.”

The PASA Operations Manual was crafted to primarily address four basic themes:

• Outline the role of African sanctuaries in primate welfare and conservation
• Formalize PASA’s Codes of Conduct, Policies, Operational Philosophy and Principles
• Define the Minimum Standards and Best Practice Guidelines for PASA sanctuaries
• Formalise PASA membership and accreditation protocols

The PASA Operations Manual was produced in English, but a French-language version will be available in 2010.

The PASA Operations Manual will be submitted to leading conservation, animal welfare, and captive care organizations for endorsement, including the International Primatological Society (IPS), the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), among others. The PASA Operations Manual will also be subject to periodic review and revision.

“PASA worked very hard for a very long time to product this manual,” said PASA executive director Doug Cress. “PASA has always recognized that its reality was not addressed by existing codes or policy documents, and we’ve had to create our own guidelines. We believe this manual will serve us well into the 21st century.”

The PASA Operations Manual includes sections on nursery care, education programs, occupational health, animal confiscation, and enclosure design, among others. It also highlights the steps necessary to be considered for PASA membership.

PASA was formed in 2000 to unite the rehabilitation centers that care for orphaned chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, drills and other primates across Africa. For more information, please visit the PASA websiteor contact info@pasaprimates.org.