SOLITARY CHIMP FINDS 'FAMILY' AT CHIMFUNSHI
Julie, a 7-year old female that was one of the last exhibits in the private zoo of an Arab sheik, was transferred to the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage on December 7, where she will become a surrogate big sister for a group of orphan chimps in the nursery. Julie journeyed from Doha, Qatar, via London, England, a trip that spanned 59 hours on three continents in three days. After a period of adjustment, she will be introduced to the three babies - Kathy, Val and Miracle - that currently inhabit Chimfunshi's nursery. Julie (pictured above as she left Qatar) is the 84th chimpanzee to arrive at Chimfunshi. Said Chimfunshi co-founder Sheila Siddle: "We've had luck in the past with introducing older chimps to act as mothers and role models to our babies. Given Julie's age and temperament, we hope she will be able to give Kathy, Val and Miracle the sort of guidance and support they need. Young chimpanzees learn so much by imitating their elders and that is the role we believe she can play." Julie spent the last few years as the sole chimpanzee in the private zoo of a sheik in Qatar. But when the zoo was dismantled, Julie was adopted by a pair of German expatriates, Sven and Catrin Hammer, who arranged for her release and accompanied her to Chimfunshi.

SHEILA SIDDLE LECTURE A SUCCESS
Chimfunshi co-founder Sheila Siddle made an impressive debut recently as an international lecturer, entertaining audiences in England and Germany with a slide show / speech entitled, "Captive Chimpanzees and Bushmeat: Are We Winning?" Siddle thrilled a crowd of approximately 500 at the Royal Geographical Society in London on November 8, then repeated that success for another large crowd on November 18 in Hamburg at a private reception arranged by Chimfunshi trustee Stephan Louis. Siddle used slides of Chimfunshi chimps to explain the development of the sanctuary, then issued a stern warning about the fast-growing bushmeat trade. "We all blame the Africans, but it's not the Africans that are the problem," she said. "It's the Europeans. It's the European countries that offer debt relief for timber. They are the ones cutting down the forests, and they are the ones building the roads."

SIDDLES COLLECT MBE HONORS
Chimfunshi co-founders David and Sheila Siddle were honored by Queen Elizabeth II during their recent European trip, receiving MBE awards at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on November 13. One of the few husband and wife teams ever to receive simultaneous honors, the Siddles were apparently well-known to the queen, who actually chatted with them about chimps during the ceremony for so long that the crowd began to murmur. The Siddles were joined at the palace ceremony by long-time Chimfunshi trustees Ingrid Regnell, Richard Watson and Stephan Louis.

NORWAY BOOSTS ZAMBIAN WILDLIFE & TOURISM
The Norwegian government is to spend at least $3 million in a four-year programme aimed at upgrading wildlife personnel management and the development of local tourism, according to a recent report in The Times of Zambia. Norwegian ambassador to Zambia, Halvard Lesterberg, said the assistance was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding the two governments signed in September 2000, and would ensure the training of wildlife personnel to contribute to the sustainable management and development of the local tourism sector.

"50/50" WINS TERRA NOVA AWARD, HONORS CHIMFUNSHI
The South African Broadcasting Corporation's acclaimed wildlife and environment television program, "50/50," won overall top honors at the Audi Terra Nova awards gala in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on October 31, beating out fellow nominee Sheila Siddle of Chimfunshi, among others. But "50/50" creator Danie van der Walt stunned the audience by announcing during his acceptance speech that he would donate the winner's cheque of USD $1,430 / R10,000 to Chimfunshi, which has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the show over the years. Ironically, "50/50" was already slated to receive the Chimfunshi Pal Award at the Chimposium 2001 in Johannesburg on November 3.

CHIMFUNSHI "RE-OPENS" 7-ACRE ENCLOSURE
The brick-and-mortar wall that encircled the original 7-acre enclosure at Chimfunshi was finally replaced by a 10-foot electrical fence and re-opened on October 9, allowing a bachelor group of seven males back out into the area for the first time since February. Choco, Leben, Guenther, Bobo, Eusebio, Grumps and Charles had been confined to handling cages during the rennovation, but quickly acclimated to the enclosure, which had experienced tremendous re-growth after being untouched for so long. In particular, Eusebio was delighted to be back outside, as he had spent most of the past decade indoors at a zoo in Chile and only arrived at CHimfunshi a few weeks before the work began.

CHIMPOSIUM 2001 A SUCCESS
Chimfunshi co-founders David and Sheila Siddle were the honored guests at the Chimposium 2001 fund-raiser on November 3 in Johannesburg. Organized by the Friends of Chimfunshi -- South Africa, the benefit party was held at the Dimension Data complex in Bryanston and included a sale of wildlife photography by Martin Harvey, a raffle, merchandise sales, and the presentation of the Chimfunshi Pal Award to the SABC's "50/50" documentary team, which has covered a wide variety of chimpanzee-related issues since 1983. Previous winners of the Pal Award include wildlife activist Karl Ammann (1999) and American chimpanzee researchers Roger and Deborah Fouts (2000). For more information, please contact the Friends of Chimfunshi.

DAVID BECOMES LATEST CHIMP BIRTH
Diana, a female chimp who came to Chimfunshi as an infant in 1992 after being confiscated from a Lusaka market, gave birth to a male on September 12, 2001, the 20th baby born at the sanctuary since 1991. Diana's son -- dubbed "David" in honor of Chimfunshi co-founder David Siddle -- is her first offspring and is living with his mother in one of the two 500-acre enclosures.

"50 / 50" DOCUMENTARIES CAPTURE 3RD PAL AWARD
The South African wildlife TV newsmagazine "50/50," which has consistently shaped public awareness of chimpanzees through documentaries detailing primate intelligence, conservation efforts, and the horrors of the bushmeat trade, is the winner of the 2001 Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Pal Award. The program, which is defined as the balance between nature and humankind, has broadcast cutting-edge programs for almost two decades that have influenced environmental policy, spurred conservation, and uncovered political waste. Created in 1983, "50/50, " which is headed up by executive producer Danie van der Walt, is one of the most popular shows on South African television, and beams its reports to networks all around the world. "50/ 50" airs each Sunday night on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Channel 2, and will be honored at the annual Chimposium 2001 fund-raiser, to be held Saturday, November 3, at noon at the Dimension Data Oval in Bryanston, South Africa. For more information, please e-mail Chimfunshi or 50 / 50.

CHIMFUNSHI TAKES PART IN CHIMPANZOO
The annual Chimpanzoo conference, which is organized by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) as a means of bringing together those who work with captive chimpanzees, recently concluded in Portland, Oregon, USA, and included a video presentation of the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage's opening of two 500-acre enclosures in April 2000. Other presentations included chimpanzee / human communication updates from Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh and Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa, and a lecture by Dr. Jane Goodall. For more information, contact Chimpanzoo by e-mail or at The Geronimo Building, #308, 800 East University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA.

ZOO AIDS CHIMFUNSHI EDUCATION CENTER
The Chimfunshi Education Center got a boost recently when the Oregon Zoo (USA) bestowed a USD $500 / R3,000 / Sterling 300 grant through its Conservation Fund to help purchase books, videos, posters and other learning materials for the center. The Chimfunshi Education Center, which was built through a grant from the Government of Norway, is designed to become a top wildlife and conservation learning center serving both locals and visiting students in central Zambia.

BRITISH WEBSITE COMES TO AID OF AFRICAN SANCTUARIES
A newly launched website devoted to raising funds and awareness on behalf of African primate sanctuaries includes Chimfunshi among its supporters. The U.K. Primate Concern, which includes information on all 17 primate sanctuaries in Africa, features inter-active maps, photos, and information for donors wishing to give. The U.K. Primate Concern can also be reached at UK Primate Concern, 15 Carey Close, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 2RX.

CHIMFUNSHI-USA TO APPEAR AT TUFTS ANIMAL EXPO
Chimfunshi-USA will sell merchandise and distribute information at the 2001 Tufts Animal Expo, a large animal welfare convention that will be held October 10-13 to the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Over 4,200 attendees from 24 countries will take part in the expo, which is designed to promote better care for captive animals through state-of-the-art veterinary care. For more information, visit the Tufts Animal Expo website.

FOC CHAIRLADY SANTON NAMED AS TRUSTEE
Brenda Santon, who has served as chairlady of the Friends of Chimfunshi in South Africa since 1995, has been named as a trustee of the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust. Santon will continue in her duties as FOC chairlady, even as she assumes a role in the growth and management of Chimfunshi's 13,000-acre trust property in Zambia. A former chairlady of the Witbank SPCA in South Africa, Santon also worked for the Beauty Without Cruelty animal welfare organization. Upon joining Chimfunshi, she created the succesful chimpanzee adoption scheme in South Africa, and helped develop the FOC's recent marketing and merchandising initiatives. Santon, who is the Executive Secretary to the General Manager of Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation Ltd., joins a Chimfunshi trust board that includes members in five countries throughout Africa, Europe and North America.

CHIMFUNSHI WEBSITE HONORED AGAIN
The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage website has been awarded the Golden Web Award from the International Association of Web Masters and Designers, the second straight year the site earned this honor. The Chimfunshi site, which was designed by Kerry Anderson of Dimension Data in South Africa, along with several Chimfunshi officials, has received over 15,000 "hits" since going on-line in August, 1999, and continues to grow and expand, adding pages that offer merchandise, monthly news updates, and status reports on chimpanzees rescues around the world.

FLORIDA CHIMP SANCTUARY OPEN FOR BUSINESS
The Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, which was created to house chimpanzees deemed "surplus" by the United States' space exploration program, recently received its first two shipments of chimps. Founded by long-time Chimfunshi associate Dr. Carole Noon, the CCCC helped fight a long and expensive legal battle to keep the chimps from being consigned to medical testing laboratories, and now houses over 20 chimps in spacious enclosures at the sanctuary headquarters in Florida. Although the male chimpanzees all knew one another, they had never met the females -- yet both groups quickly got along. For more information, please visit the CCCC website.

HARVEY DOMINATES AGFA PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
South African photographer Martin Harvey was again the big winner at the 2001 Agfa Wildlife & Environment Photographic Awards, capturing two first-place honors and earning a runners-up nod in a third. Harvey, a Chimfunshi ally whose photo sales have helped raise funds at the last two Chimposiums, won the Bird Catgeory and the Animal Behaviour Category, and finished second in the Mammal Catgeory. In addition, a picture of a chimpanzee's hand taken at Chimfunshi by photographer Ian McCallum won the Man & Envrionment Catgeory. To view all the winners and more, visit WildFocus.com.

CAMEROON SANCTUARY MAKES NEWS
The Cameroon chimpanzee sanctuary founded by American veterinarian Dr. Sheri Speede was the subject of a feature article in a recent edition of the Portland Tribune newspaper. Entitled "Portland Vet Loves Monkey Business," the article traces Speede's incredible efforts to save captive chimpanzees that were being abused at Cameroon resort hotels, then build her own sanctuary for them deep in the west African rainforests. Speede's work is backed by In Defense of Animals, along with organizations such as the International Primate Protection League, and 18 chimps currently reside at the sanctuary. Said Speede: "It is very gratifying for me to see adult chimpanzees...on a chain for 25 years, out there enjoying affection, knowing that without me, (they) wouldn't be doing that. It's so exactly what I want to be doing." For a copy of the article, write to the Portland Tribune.

U.S. ZOO GIVES GRANT TO CHIMFUNSHI
The Columbus (Ohio) Zoo, one of the largest and most respected zoos in the United States, has given a $1,000 grant to Chimfunshi to fund the re-fencing the seven-acre walled enclosure. The zoo's Conservation Fund made the award, which will help replace the original brick and mortar wall at the seven-acre enclosure with electric fencing. The Columbus Zoo, which is perhaps best-known for its executive director, TV star Jack Hanna, currently funds 24 conservation projects around the world. For more information, contact the Columbus Zoo website.

WILD FOUNDATION HELPS CHIMFUNSHI -- AGAIN
The California-based International Wilderness Leadership (WILD) Foundation has bestowed a $700 grant on Chimfunshi, the second consecutive year the organization has made a substantial donation to the sanctuary. The WILD Foundation, which has spent the last 25 years funding projects such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and the Peace Parks Foundation, includes South African conservationist Dr. Ian Player among its board members. For more information, please contact the WILD Foundation website.

CHIMFUNSHI PROFILED IN GERMAN "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" MAGAZINE
The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is featured in the latest edition of "National Geographic" magazine in Germany. The article, which is written by Roman Goergen, includes several photographs of David and Sheila Siddle, along with pictures of young chimps like Stephan and Louise. In addition, the article quotes German trustee Stephan Louis and includes contact information for both Chimfunshi and the Chimfunshi website. To read the article in German -- or at least view the pictures -- please visit the German "National Geographic" website.

FORMER PAL AWARD WINNER FOUTS SPEAKS OUT ON 'APES'
Dr. Roger Fouts, whose ground-breaking studies on human and ape communication were profiled in the book, Next of Kin, urges a careful examination of the recent hit film, "Planet of the Apes." Writing in an opinion piece for the San Jose Mercury News, Fouts, who shared the 2000 Chimfunshi Pal Award with his wife, Deborah, believes that film -- while deplorable for using real chimps as actors in some scenes -- nonetheless raises important issues regarding man's treatment of apes down through the years. "We have...come to realize that Darwin was correct when he told us that we share emotions with our closest animal kin," Fouts writes. "Chimpanzees and other apes display grief, jealousy, deception, love, compassion and so on...These findings have led some scientists to question whether we were in error when we assumed personhood was something uniquely human. After all, what makes a ``person'' if not unique personalities, emotions, and a sense of self and others while living in a complex society?" For the complete article, please click here.

PRISTINE CONGO FOREST SPARED FROM LOGGING
A Congo Republic rain forest rich in rare animals and trees, described by scientists as the most pristine rain forest left in Africa, will be protected from logging under a deal brokered recently between the Congo government and the Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) timber company. The CIB agreed to give up its harvesting rights to the 100-square-mile (160-square-km) Goualogo Triangle forest in the country's remote north, which is home to dense populations of chimpanzees, forest elephants, red colobus monkeys, gorillas and other large mammals, and it contains vast tracts of mahogany trees and other valuable hardwoods. "The Goualogo Triangle is a very special place. Timber industry companies, mine included, are not in the habit of walking away from timber-rich forests," CIB President Hinrich Stoll said at a news conference at the Bronx Zoo's Congo gorilla forest exhibit in the United States. The Congo government will protect the area by adding it to an existing national park. Participants in the deal said this was the first time an African timber company had voluntarily given up its harvesting rights in the name of conservation. The CIB decided to withdraw after studies showed the area, which runs between the Ndoki and Goualogo rivers, was virtually untouched by humans, Stoll said.

FAMILY ZOO CHIMP CAUGHT IN U.S. TUG-OF-WAR
Chico, a male chimpanzee that has been housed at Waccatee Zoo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in a barren cement and iron-barred cage for nearly 20 years, is the subject of an intense battle between zoo officials and animal welfare activists. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) represented seven international animal protection organizations during a meeting with the zoo to try to secure Chico's release from his loneliness and frustration. Unfortunately, the owners of Waccatee Zoo refused to relocate the chimpanzee to an accredited sanctuary.Mmeanwhile, world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall issued a statement denouncing the conditions in which Chico is living. Said Goodall: "I reviewed video footage that was taken at Waccatee Zoo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was quite shocked and outraged to see a chimpanzee in this horribly small cage in an environment absolutely without any kind of stimulation, no enrichment. Chico showed a number of aberrant behaviors--swaying from side to side and head-bobbing. It is my view that his [living] conditions are extremely cruel. He should be released from his prison, gradually introduced to other chimps, and given the space and enriched environment that he deserves." If you wish to call for Chico's release, please write to: Archie and Kathleen Futrell, Owners, Waccatee Zoo, 8500 Enterprise Road, Socastee, South Carolina, 29588, USA.

CHIMFUNSHI FOUNDERS HONORED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
David and Sheila Siddle, whose decision to rescue a dying chimpanzee at their farm in Zambia 18 years ago led to the creation of the world’s largest chimp sanctuary, were awarded MBEs by Queen Elizabeth II on June 16. The Siddles were included in the Queen’s Birthday Honors "for service to animal welfare and conservation. " Also granted awards were actors Dudley Moore and Christopher Lee, racecar driver Jackie Stewart, footballer Alan Shearer and musician James Galway, among others. The Queen chooses the recipients on the advice of the Prime Minister, to whom recommendations are sent either by government ministers or by members of the public. Said Sheila Siddle: "Dave and I are deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award from the Queen. We never expected Chimfunshi to grow like it has or attract the attention that it has, and we certainly could not have done it alone. We accept these MBEs on behalf of our many supporters around the world. But many chimpanzees are still looking for homes, and maybe this will make people aware of just how much there is left to be done." The MBE was created during World War I by King George V as a means of recognizing British citizens whose valor did not extend to the battlefield.

BONOBO SANCTUARY PROFILED IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
The only sanctuary devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating bonobo chimpanzees was recently featured in the June 7 edition of The Christian Science Monitor newspaper in a story entitled "Bonobos' Threat: Hungry Humans." The article centers upon the orphanage operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Claudine Andre, and the ongoing battle to confront the bushmeat crisis in central Africa. Andre emphasizes the need to make the Congolese more aware of their natural resources. "It is too late to educate the adults, but the children -- when you explain, they get it," she said. "And if they get it, we might be headed in a better direction." To read the whole story, visit The Christian Science Monitor website.

COULSTON FOUNDATION ACCUSED IN CHIMP DEATH
Gina, a 12-year old female chimpanzee, died June 5 after being locked outdoors in scorching desert heat at a bio-medical research center in New Mexico, USA, according to charges levied recently by animal rights activists. Officials from The Coulston Foundation, a scientific research company in Alamogordo, N.M., denied the allegations lodged by the group, In Defense of Animals (IDA), based in Mill Valley, California. IDA said it based its accusations on information gained from whistleblowers inside the company, which is involved in several scientific research projects involving chimps, including the development of a DNA-based vaccine against the HIV virus. Coulston officials said the chimp died of complications from old age. The Coulston Foundation has been charged with numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act in the past, including the death of a 36-year old female in 1999 was found to be carrying a dead fetus insider her for weeks.

SCHOOLGIRL RALLIES STUDENTS TO RESCUE CHIMPS
An eight-year old girl from Calgary, Ontairio, Canada, won the 2001 Great Kids Award after leading a fund-raising drive on behalf of a Canadian chimpanzee sanctuary. Jessica Bonner, a third-grade student at Varsity Acres Elementary School, was the driving force behind Change for Chimps, which helped raise money to benefit the Fauna Foundation. Other schools have since joined in support, which will aid the foundation's 15 chimps, all of whom were rescued from bio-medical laboratories. Said Jessica: "I wish that chimps would never be used in research or dressed up for birthday parties, that they could have a fair life like we do. I’m hoping one day that dream can come true."

SHEILA SIDDLE EARNS AUDI TERRA NOVA NOMINATION
Chimfunshi co-founder Sheila Siddle has been nominated for the prestigious Audi Terra Nova Award, honoring her commitment to injured and unwanted chimpanzees. Siddle was recognized at a luncheon in Johannesburg on May 30 and presented with a cheque for R10,000 (USD $1,660). She now becomes eligible for the annual Audi Terra Nova Award, which will be announced at a gala in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in October. Audi patron Dr. Ian Player introduced Siddle at the luncheon, lauding her dedication to helping chimpanzees that are often on the brink of death. The Audi Terra Nova Award was established in 1994 to recognize and encourage unsung heroes of Southern African conservation. Past winners include soil conservation expert Robert Mazibuko, traditional healer Credo Mutwa, marine protector Nan Rice, and Adrian Gardiner, founder of the Shanwari Game Reserve. For more information, contact Audi.

DAVID SIDDLE JOINS EXPERTS AT SANCTUARY WORKSHOP
Chimfunshi co-founder David Siddle joined other top primate experts at the second annual Pan-African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) conference and workshop May 28-31 in Limbe, Cameroon. Sponsored by the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), the PASA meeting was convened in an attempt to standardize procedures and practices at the growing community of sanctuaries across Africa. Top conservationists and activists attended, as did representatives from the animal welfare industry. Siddle played several video documentaries that have been filmed at Chimfunshi and passed out information and photos concerning Chimfunshi's two 500-acre enclosures.

CHIMFUNSHI PAL AWARD WINNER LEADS RADIO EXPEDITION
Bushmeat activist Karl Ammann, whose efforts earned him the inaugural Chimfunshi Pal Award in 1999, is featured in a four-part radio series, "National Geographic Radio Expeditions: The Search for the Bili Ape," that was broadcast beginning March 26. Compiled by National Public Radio reporter Alex Chadwick, the series details Ammann's expedition into the Central Congo to try and locate an ape that many believe is either a gorilla sub-species or a chimpanzee-gorilla hybrid. The Bili Ape series can be found at the National Public Radio archives.

ZAMBIAN MINISTER BLASTS ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS
Zambian tourism minister Michael Mabenga recently criticized the country's recent anti-poaching operations, noting that the last quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 2001 had not been very succesful. Speaking at a function May 18 where uniforms were donated to wildlife police officers of Chunga Area Management Unit, Mabenga said the unimpressive performance was a result of various operational constraints. Mabenga added that Zambia's wildlife board had been dissolved because of irregularities and would be replaced by a new board. Meanwhile, Care For The Wild International country representative Adrian Stuart said his organisation, which provides logistical support, capacity building and other forms of assistance, had sponsored some rangers to England to study research methods on poaching.

WWF-ZAMBIA BACKS WETLAND CONSERVATION ZONE
The World Wide Fund for Nature - Zambia has agreed to sponsor a two-year project for the establishment of a wetland conservation zone in the Kafue Flats. WWF coordinator Monica Chundama said the conservancy of 50, 000 hectares would have to be self-sustaining financially and that funds would be committed towards physical demarcation of the area, re-introduction of animals and flora as well as rehabilitation of infrastructure for tourism promotion. Meanwhile, Zambian government spokesman Gibson Ngulube said the conservancy was meant to rehabilitate and restore the natural ecosystem of the wetlands which has been impacted on by fishing, commercial farming and community activities. Ngulube said about 400 lechwe and smaller numbers of zebra and other animal species would be introduced after an 85-kilometer electric fence had been erected around the area.

SURVEY REVEALS CHIMPANZEE SUPPORT
A recent survey commissioned by The Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) disclosed that most Americans believe chimpanzees and humans have much in common, and that chimps should be protected by some of the same rights extended to children. A majority (85 percent) of those surveyed believe that chimpanzees have complex social, intellectual and emotional lives similar to humans, pointing out the awareness that chimps are social and usually live in large groups that include extended families. The survey, conducted last month by Zogby International of Utica, N.Y., found that nearly nine in 10 Americans feel it is unacceptable to confine chimps to government-approved cages. Said Holly Hazard, executive director for DDAL: ``It is evident from the many letters, phone calls and e-mails we receive on a daily basis that Americans are increasingly concerned for the overall welfare of chimpanzees...The chimpanzee is an animal with physical and emotional traits closely related to humans, and there are special bonds between humans and these primates. The results of the survey confirmed the unique concern and care
for chimps that Americans have.''

DUTCH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS RETIREMENT FOR GREAT APES
A committee of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW) has recommended that experiments on the chimpanzees at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) research centre in Rijswijk must cease and that a retirement home be found for the 100-plus apes living there. That declaration was delivered to a Dutch government minister, along with a stinging rebuke of the BPRC and the work being done there. According to the committee, under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. A. Bern, Executive Director of the Dutch Cancer Institute, there is a very limited need for the use of chimpanzees in medical research. Only the search for medicine against the hepatitis-C virus, which causes serious liver illnesses, requires these animals. Such research can be done elsewhere in the world, according to the committee.

STUDY CONTRADICTS NOTION THAT FEMALE CHIMPS STRAY
A study conducted on a communtiy of chimps living at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania has discovered that all of the infants were sired by males in the social group, contradicting earlier studies that suggested female chimps often look elsewhere for mates. The study, organized by a team headed by Dr. Anne E. Pusey and Dr. Jane Goodall, was published in the current issue of Molecular Ecology and debunks the theory that males are often too tired or preoccupied vying for dominance to bother mating. For more information, visit the Jane Goodall Institute website.

CHIMFUNSHI-USA TAKES PART IN 'GREAT APES' FORUM
Members of Chimfunshi-USA joined top primate experts at a powerful four-day conference recently in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. "Great Apes at the Threshold," jointly organized by Tufts University's Center for Animals and Public Policy and Georgetown University's Kennedy Institute of Ethics, examined the legal, ethical, conservation, and scientific dilemnas currently facing the great apes, and included speakers such as Jane Goodall, Roger Fouts, Peter Singer, and a host of others. The conference was staged at the Park Plaza Hotel, and Chimfunshi was among the organizations to operate a booth that included merchandise, information, and a photo display of the sanctuary.

QATAR CHIMPS MAKE BIG NEWS
The recent transfer of two baby chimpanzees from Qatar to the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage attracted international media attention, incluing press coverage in Great Britain, the United States and the Middle East. The infants, nicknamed Kathy and Val, were pictured in the British press, and received write-ups everywhere from Reuters and the Gulf Times (Qatar) to Africa Environment & Wildlife magazine and the on-line Environmental News Network. Both chimps are slowly adjusting to the routine at Chimfunshi and are expected to form the basis for a new nursery group.

"EATING APE" LECTURE SERIES WRAPS UP
The American lecture series by wildlife activist and author Karl Ammann, "Eating Ape: Primates on the Brink," concluded April 10 in Washington, D.C., after a whirlwind tour that included eight appearances in seven days, in addition to radio, televisio and press interviews. Ammann, a former Chimfunshi Pal Award winner, is considered the world's foremost expert on the bushmeat crisis decimating Africa's great apes, and he spoke at universities such as Cornell, Princeton, Pensylvania, Tufts and Georgetown, in addition to a stop at Zoo New England in Boston. Ammann offered many Americans their first glimpse (see photo above) of the toll bushmeat has taken. His latest book, Eating Ape, co-authored with Dale Peterson, will be published later this year, and Ammann's website includes more information and photos.

VIOLET'S BABY FAILS TO SURVIVE
Vick, the infant male born to Violet on January 22, died on April 16 after contracting the flu during an outbreak of the virus at the sanctuary. One of the first babies bron at the new 500-acre enclosures, Vick was by all accounts healthy and strong, and Violet appeared to be an excellent mother. But the illness, which struck just as Zambia's summer turned to a wet autumn, proved too much for the baby to bear. He will be missed by all.

BUSHMEAT CRISIS FEATURED ON TV POLICE DRAMA
The bushmeat crisis and attempts to smuggle ape meat will be the central plot of the May 10 episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a popular TV police drama that airs on CBS-TV in the United States. "CSI" producer Anthony Zuiker worked closely with Dr. Anthony Rose, founder of The Bushmeat Project, to ensure the authenticity of the script, and it's expected that an audience of approximately 10 million will view the show. This "CSI" episode is airing during the pivotal "sweeps" period, when networks attempt to lure the largest viewership possible in order to boost their advertising rates. Check local listings for the exact time of the show, or visit the CBS website.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTORS TO PROTECT ZAMBIAN WILDLIFE
Forty newly-trained Zambian officers in environmental policy and legislation have been charged with ensuring that the country's environmental regulations are respected, according to a recent report by the Pan African News Agency. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, with the help of the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education, trained the prosecutors in topics such as environmental law, investigation of environmental crimes and prosecution of environmental offenders, and ordered the officers to seek convictions wherever Zambia's natural heritage is threatened. According to Environmental and Natural Resources Minister Samuel Miyanda, the training forms part of the government's program of managing natural resources and protecting these resources through the active participation of local communities.

ZAMBIA'S TOURISM TO GET SOLAR ECLIPSE BOOST
The first solar eclipse of the new millennium is being heralded as a turning point for Zambia's tourism industry, which has been undermined by regional conflicts, neglect of infrastructure and poor marketing, according to a recent article in The Business Report. The full eclipse will occur in Zambia on June 21 and would also be seen in Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Madagascar.
But Angola's civil war and political instability in Zimbabwe are reportedly prompting tourists to choose Zambia as a destination for the eclipse event, and more than 15,000 are expected during that period.

U.N. SAYS CONGO WAR DEVASTATING ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
Congo's civil war has been devastating to its wildlife as well as its human inhabitants, killing off thousands of elephants, gorillas and other endangered species, a U.N. panel recently reported. After three years of fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, "the number of okapis, gorillas and elephants has dwindled to small populations," the panel said in a report on how participants in the many-sided conflict have plundered resources to fuel the fighting. Soldiers have slaughtered elephants for their meat as well as their tusks and buffalo for their meat, according to the report, commissioned by the U.N. Security Council last June. In Garamba Park in northeastern Congo, an area controlled by Ugandan troops and Sudanese rebels, nearly 4,000 out of 12,000 elephants were killed between 1995 and 1999, the report said. In other parks and reserves, including Kahuzi-Biega Park, the Okapi Reserve and Virunga Park, "the situation is equally grave," it said.

SOUTH AFRICAN PANEL PROPOSES CONTROVERSIAL AIDS SCHEME
A controversial plan to infect up to 20 chimpanzees to prove that drug toxicity -- not the HIV virus -- causes death in AIDS patients hs been proposed by South Africa's Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel. The expiriment drew sharp criticism from South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection (SAAV), which said the plan would cause the chimps to suffer and die needlessly. "Leaving aside for the moment the fact that Chimpanzees are a protected species of whom there are very few left in the world, experiments on them having been outlawed in some countries, we can only comment that if the dissidents are indeed serious, then this would constitute scientific nonsense," said the SAAV, in a prepared statement. "To date no-one has managed to infect Chimpanzees with human AIDS, and artificially infected animals only develop a disease which is similar but not the same. Their immune systems differ from that of humans. Furthermore, the toxicity of a drug cannot be extrapolated with accuracy from animals to humans." Indeed, according to one of the world's best known toxicologists, Prof Gerhard Zbinden, from the Zurich Institute of Toxicology, `Most adverse reactions that occur in man cannot be demonstrated, anticipated or avoided by the routine toxicity experiment.' He has shown that only three of the 45 most common drug side-effects might be predicted using animals.

QATAR CHIMPS FINALLY RETURN TO AFRICA
Two young chimpanzees found stuffed inside a cardboard container at a Qatar Airport last September were finally transferred to the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage on March 30, ending a seven-month ordeal. The chimps, a 20-month old female and a 10-month old male, were apparently being smuggled to the Middle East from West Africa. Only an alert customs official at the Doha Airport -- who saw the container wiggle slightly on a shelf -- and the dogged efforts of International Primates Protection League (IPPL) volunteers Kathy Bader, Valerie Molyneaux, and Dr. William George in Qatar allowed for the succesful return of the chimps to their native Africa. In addition, the chimps' transfer was paid through generous donations from the IPPL, the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, and the Primate Conservation and Welfare Society. The female chimp, named "Kathy," and the male, named "Val" (after the IPPL volunteers) become the 85th and 86th residents of Chimfunshi.

KARL AMMANN BUSHMEAT LECTURE TOUR GETS UNDERWAY
Wildlife author and activist Karl Ammann will begin his U.S. bushmeat tour, "Eating Ape: Primates on the Brink," on Monday, April 2, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Ammann, considered the world's foremost expert on the crisis of illegal hunting that is decimating the last wild populations of chimpanzees and gorillas, will also speak at Zoo New England in Boston (April 3), Boston University (April 3), Tufts University (April 4), Princeton University (April 5), the University of Pennsylvania (April 6), Georgetown University (April 9) and the Johns Hopkins University - SAIS (April 10).

"GREEN GROUP' KIDS PICK CHIMFUNSHI FOR ANNUAL DONATION
The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage recently received a generous USD $600 donation from the "Green Group," an American-based children's club organized to support and care for the environment. Created in 1997 by Rudi Price-Waldrip and Betsy Richardson, the Green Group draws support from the Marin (California) Primary and Secondary Schools, and organizes fund-raising projects to help conservation and environmental causes. In past years, the Green Group donated funds to purchase more than six acres of rainforest preserve in Ecuador, among others projects. Chimfunshi is incredibly honored and thankful to be this year's recipient. For more information, please contact: Chris Price, Green Group, 31 Onyx Street, Larkspur, California, 94939-1923, USA.

CONSERVATION EXPERTS DELIVER DIRE NEWS TO BLAIR
Born Free Foundation founder Virginia McKenna, Great Ape expert Ian Redmond, and a multi-party collection of members of Parliament delivered a sobering message to British prime minister Tony Blair on March 1: The world's Great Apes -- chimpanzees, gorillas, organgutans and bonobos chimps -- will be extinct in the wild within 20 years. McKenna launched a mail-in campaign designed to spur British government to aid the apes, and said: "The devastating truth is that by the time my grandson and Tony Blair's little Leo are old enough to vote, it may already be too late. I cannot believe that the world is prepared to stand idly by and contemplate the extinction of our nearest living relatives. It is a kind of species genocide perpetuated by one Great Ape - ourselves - on all the others and only we can do something about it." For postcard photos that can be sent to the U.K. government, click here.

ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS CALL ON EU TO BAN APE EXPERIMENTS
The Coalition to End Experiments on Chimpanzees in Europe (CEECE), a team of nine European animal welfare groups, called on the European Union on March 28 to ban all experiments on great apes. In addition, the group called for the closure of the Dutch-based Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), the last one on the continent to still conduct research using apes, which houses 112 chimpanzees and hundreds of other primates in appalling conditions. CEECE officials say many animals are housed in cages so small that they cannot stretch, with many showing signs of disturbed behaviour. The coalition says researchers from leading UK universities, hospitals and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are involved in experiments at the BPRC that would be illegal in the UK, which banned such research in 1997. The nine groups are urging supporters to press their MEPs to seek an end to EU funding of the Dutch laboratory, and they have attracted the support of several well-known naturalists. Said naturalist Sir David Attenborough: "I am in favour of a European ban on the use of apes in invasive medical research. I have seen footage of the conditions inside the BPRC and am appalled by it. I do not believe that the BPRC, or any other laboratory keeping primates, should be entitled to do so any longer."

GAP ASKS FOR HELP IN PROTESTING BRAZILIAN CIRCUS
The Great Ape Project in Brazil has officially protested the practices and standards of Circo Garcia, a regional circus that keeps 27 chimpanzees -- including some infants -- in small cages in a trailer. In addition, the babies are rented out for parties and private entertainment, and females are also forced to reproduce beginning at the age of four years. GAP is asking that government officials investigate Circo Garcia and require a permanent housing facility to be built. In addition to the GAP protest filed with Hamilton Nobre Casara, president of the environmental IBAMA, GAP is asking that letters of protest be written to Mr. Casara, denouncing Circo Garcia. To send an e-mail letter, click here

AMMANN'S "EATING APE" LECTURE SERIES SET FOR U.S.
Wildlife activist and author Karl Ammann will address the bushmeat crisis in a five-city lecture tour of the United States beginning April 2 that is sponsored by Chimfunshi-USA and The Bushmeat Project. Ammann's slide show / discussion, "Eating Ape: Primates on the Brink," will cover the illegal poaching and eating of chimpanzees, gorillas and other primates in Africa, pushing each closer to extinction. Ammann will speak at Cornell University (April 2), Zoo New England in Boston (April 3), Boston University (April 3), Tufts University (April 4), Princeton University (April 5), the University of Pennsylvania (April 6), Georgetown University (April 9), and the Johns Hopkins University / SAIS in Washington, D.C. (April 10), and discussions are under way to add several other sites. Ammann's seventh book, Eating Ape, is co-authored with Dale Peterson and will be published later this year.

WSPA EXPANDS SANCTUARY FOR PYGMY CHIMPS
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) recently committed to help enlarge a sanctuary for bonobos, also known as pygmy chimpanzees, in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital of Kinshasa. Friends of the Animals of the Congo (AAC) currently cares for 20 rare and endangered orphaned bonobos, which are the most intelligent of the four Great Apes. The sanctuary was founded by Claudine Andre in 1994, and now ranks as the largest pygmy chimp refuge in the world. Although there were an estimated 100,000 bonobos in the wild in 1980, less than 15,000 are thought to exist today, and the ongoing civil war and economic strife in the DRC leaves their long-term survival in doubt. Said WSPA director Garry Richardson: "Against a backdrop of war, poverty, and shortages of fuel and food, this sanctuary is being run by the inspired direction of Claudine Andre. Against all the odds, they are doing a fantastic job, and will continue to receive WSPA's support."

PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERIES TO FOCUS ON CHIMPS
The popular American PBS television series, "Scientific American Frontiers," will devote its April 3 broadcast entirely to chimpanzees in an episode entitled, "Chimps 'R Us." The show will include an in-depth interview with Jane Goodall, a profile of former Chimfunshi Pal Award winner Karl Ammann, an examination of the illegal bushmeat trade, observation of chimpanzee behavior at the Yerkes Primate Institute, and scientific studies that attempt to gauge just how intelligent man's closest relatives really are. Hosted by veteran actor Alan Alda, "Scientific American Frontiers" is produced by the Chedd-Angier Production Company and Scientific American magazine.

JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE OFFERS CHIMP STUDY PROGRAMME
A unique study and support programme will allow small teams of adults to observe chimps in the wild in Uganda over an eight-day period as part of an innovative venture between the Jane Goodall Institue, Discovery Initiatives, the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. The programme is designed to give visitors not only priveledged access to a wild chimpanzee community, but allow visitors to get a better understanding of the issues that local people and other wildlife face in the Kibale National Park region in southwestern Uganda. The study is carried out with researcher Julia Lloyd, whose two-year dedication to this project in this forest will inspire you in her efforts to enhance the conservation of this region for future generations of visitors to enjoy. There is also the opportunity to go and see another great ape, the Mountain Gorilla, as a tour extension. This tour is a pioneering new approach to support for Chimpanzee conservation and research and directly funds the habituation and conservation programme in Ugandais extraordinary rainforest. For more information, visit the JGI website.

BILLY BREAKS...IN?
When Billy the hippo went missing for several days recently at Chimfunshi, sanctuary co-founder Sheila Siddle became worried. But when the 1,500-pound hippo was finally found, Siddle became simply confused. It seems Billy had broken through the fencing at one of the new 500-acre enclosures -- leaving a large hole that none of the chimps chose to explore, amazingly enough -- and was content to stay inside. But Siddle thinks the reason might have been loneliness. "It only occurred to me later that Billy had probably heard the voices of Zsabu and Violet and Trixie and some of the other chimps she grew up with, and wanted to pay them a visit," Siddle said. "After all, she spent more than a year baby-sitting those chimps when they were infants, and she came to regard them as her own responsibility."

VIOLET'S "GIRL" A "BOY"
Due to mistake in identifying the sex of the baby born to Violet in mid-January, Chimfunshi officials have admitted that what they thought was a "girl" is actually a "boy." Therefore, "Vicky" is now known as "Vick," and is growing rapidly. By all accounts, Violet is a patient and caring mother.

COULSTON LAB PRESIDENT QUITS, LAYOFFS, CUTBACKS FOLLOW
The controversial Coulston Foundation laboratory in New Mexico, USA, recently lost its third president or vice-president in the last 10 months, endangering the health and welfare of hundreds of chimpanzees and other primates being held there, according to In Defense of Animals (IDA). Dr. Ronald Couch resigned as Coulston president on February 22, and was followed by the resignation of a top veterinarian and an unknown number of layoffs. The lab, which conducts tests on primates despite repeatedly failing to conform to U.S. government animal welfare laws, has been targeted by IDA and a host of other animal rights groups for its reckless treatment of animals. Said IDA research director Eric Kleiman: "With this continued staffing upheaval, affecting both senior management and veterinary care, how can Coulston possibly comply with federal animal welfare laws and properly care for over 600 chimpanzees and 300 monkeys? These lives are in clear, imminent danger, yet both the USDA and the NIH continue their failure to enforce animal welfare laws." For more information, vists the IDA website.

BROTHER OF CHIMFUNSHI CO-FOUNDER PASSES AWAY
Charles Siddle, an expert in horse behaviour and the only remaining brother of Chimfunshi co-founder David Siddle, died in early January at his home in England. Siddle helped pioneer the treatment known as "horse whispering" and worked with numerous thoroughbred champions. David Siddle flew back to Great Britain for the funeral. The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage extends its regrets to David Siddle and his entire family.

THE FALL OF THE WALL
Persistent rains that soaked Chimfunshi in January weakened the foundation around the seven-acre walled enclosure, causing the structure to collpase beyond repair. Therefore, Chimfunshi officials have decided to tear down what remains of the 12-year old wall, and replace it with the same 11-foot electrical fencing that is used elsewhere in the sanctuary. Unfortunately, the male chimps that were inhabiting the enclosure -- including Choco, Leben, Gunther, Bobo, and Eusebio, among others -- must be confined to their cages at the handling facilities until funds can be secured that will allow the fence to be completed. For more information, please contact the Friends of Chimfunshi.

CHIMFUNSHI WEBSITE WINS AWARD
The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage website has earned the Golden Web Award for 2000-2001, the third honor to be given to the site. Sponsored by the International Association of Web Masters and Designers, the award is granted to those sites whose "web design, originality and content have achieved levels of excellence deserving of recognition," according to the citation. Launched in August, 1999, the Chimfunshi website has become a key part of the sanctuary's recent growth and outreach, receiving over 600 "hits" per months and linking to a wide variety of primate rescue and rehabilitation organizations. The site was created by the Dimension Data computer firm of South Africa, with input by Friends of Chimfunshi volunteers. To learn more, visit the Golden Web Award website.

SUMMERLEE FOUNDATION BESTOWS $7,550 GRANT
The Summerlee Foundation of Texas, USA, has given the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage a generous $7,550 grant to fund the rennovation of chimpanzee enclosures. The foundation, which was created in 1988 by Dallas philanthropist Annie Lee Roberts, supports a wide variety of animal welfare initiatives, including companion animals, predator research and protection, sanctuaries and refuges. Other grant beneficiaries include Friends of Washoe and In Defense of Animals, among others. To contact the Summerlee Foundation, either write to them by e-mail or visit the foundation website.

CONGO CHIMPS CROSS BORDER TO FREEDOM
Sinki and Kambo, pet chimpanzees that were kept in a private home in the Congo city of Lubumbashi, were transferred to Chimfunshi on January 14, the first newcomers to the sanctuary in 2001. Sinki, a seven-year old male, was adopted by a Congolese expatriate after being abandoned as a baby by smugglers, while Kambo, a five-year old female, was brought to the same household by locals. Both were sent to Chimfunshi because the ongoing civil war and economic instability of the Democratic Republic of Congo left their owner uncertain she could continue to care for them. The chimps are the 81st and 82nd "refugees" to call Chimfunshi home, and will eventually be allowed to join one of the existing family groups at the sanctuary -- although they are being kept together in a separate cage for the time being. "The fact that they have each other and arrived in such good health makes the whole process of socialization so much easier," said Chimfunshi co-founder Sheila Siddle. "I hope they live long and happy lives here at Chimfunshi. They seem like wonderful chimps."

CHIMFUNSHI BABY BOOM (AGAIN)
Two chimpanzees at Chimfunshi had babies on consecutive days in late January, as both Violet and Trixie gave birth to their first offspring. Violet, who joined Chimfunshi in 1992, welcomed Vicky on January 22, while Trixie, who arrived that same year, delivered Tilly on January 23. The babies are the 83rd and 84th chimpanzees to join Chimfunshi, and will remain with their mothers in one of the 500-acre enclosures. The identities of the father or fathers remains a mystery, although Tsabu and Mikey are among the dominant males in that group.

REPORTS CONFIRM COULSTON NIH VIOLATIONS
The Coulston Foundation, one of the largest primate-testing laboratories in the world, repeatedly violated federal laws that protect chimpanzee health in 1998 and 2000, according to recently released inspection reports. The Association for Assessment and Accrediation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) conducted inspections of the facility in New Mexico, USA, and found that the foundation had been out of compliance with animal care laws established by the National Institutes of Health for at least two years. Seventeen chimpanzees died at Coulston between 1998 and 2000, and at least four of those deaths are blamed on insufficient veterinary care. To view the compete transcripts of the inspections, click here.

ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT BANS HUNTING
Zambian president Frederick Chiluba recently ordered an immediate ban on hunting concessions for one year in order to allow the country's wildlife to recover from decades of poaching and indiscriminate destruction. In an address before Parliament on January 26, Chiluba said that past abuses of hunting regulations have decimated Zambia's natural resources. "I am left with no option but ban with immediate effect any further hunting concessions," he said. "This ban...is intended to enable animals to regenerate after the wanton destruction we have witnessed in the past." The ban will also allow the Zambia Wildlife Authority to re-organize and stabilize the country's national parks system.

CHIMPOSIUM 2000 A GRAND FETE
The Chimposium 2000 fund-raiser that was held on December 9 in Johannesburg proved to be another smashing success, as a large crowd took in the festivities at the Indaba Hotel. Serving both as the Friends of Chimfunshi annual general meeting and a celebration of the sanctuary itself, American researchers Roger and Deborah were given the Pal Award for their 30-year study of chimpanzee communication, and Siddle himself delivered the keynote address. Other aspects included a photo exhibition by South African Martin Harvey, bushveld artwork by David Johnson, and merchandise sales -- all designed to raise funds on behalf of Chimfunshi.

PAL AWARD WINNERS EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN
Roger and Deborah Fouts, whose ground-breaking study of chimpanzee communication earned them this year's Pal Award at the Chimposium 2000 in Johannesburg, capped a whirlwind visit to southern Africa with a engaging, thought-provoking address. While Deborah Fouts showed a stunning video of the Foutses' chimps using sign language to "speak" to their keepers, Roger Fouts (pictured above) challenged the audience to regard chimpanzees as human "cousins" instead of intelligent animals. The Foutses made several media stops in South Africa, including a television appearance on "SABC Morning Live," a two-hour chat on 702 Radio's "Animal Talk", interviews with The Star, The Citizen, and the Bryanston Daily newspapers, and a question and answer session with the Ukhozi Productions documentary crew. For more information on the Foutses' work, click here.

CHILE CHIMP GAINS NEW LIFE AT CHIMFUNSHI
Eusebio, a massive male chimpanzee that lived alone for the past several years at a zoo in Chile, became the 79th resident of Chimfunshi when he was transferred safely to the sanctuary on December 14, 2000. Believed to have been born in Africa, Eusebio was the property of a zoo in Lisbon, Portugal, when he was sold to the Metropolitan Zoological Park in Santiago in 1991 -- ostensibly as a companion for the zoo's existing chimp population. But when Eusebio failed to integrate with the other chimps, he was remanded to a solitary cage where he was kept indoors for years at a time and only recently saw sunlight two days a week. At 24 years of age and 165 pounds, Eusebio is the oldest and largest chimp ever relocated to Chimfunshi, and is slated to join the existing bachelor group living in the 7-acre walled enclosure. Eusebio's transfer was arranged by the Primate Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Chile, and the Ape Foundation in The Netherlands.

CIRCUS CHIMP RE-UNITED WITH BROTHER AT CHIMFUNSHI
An 11-year old male chimpanzee that had spent his entire life performing with circuses throughout the South Pacific was transferred to Chimfunshi on December 31, 2000, joining his little brother that arrived approximately one year before. Sonny, who was a star with the Ridgway Circus, travelled over 48 hours from New Zealand to reach Zambia, where he was placed in a cage alongside Buddy, his four-year old brother that arrived on December 14, 1999. The two chimps quickly embraced and began happily grooming one another. Both were the offspring of Lola, a female chimp who died before animal welfare officials in New Zealand were able to secure her release, but it's hoped that Sonny and Buddy will begin rebuilding their family with the chimps at Chimfunshi. Sonny's transfer -- like Buddy's -- was arranged by the New Zealand-based Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE), along with Chimfunshi officials throughout southern Africa.

C.H.I.M.P. ACT BECOMES U.S. LAW
Legislation that would establish American sanctuaries for "surplus" chimpanzees from bio-medical testing and space exploration programs was signed into U.S. law by President Clinton on December 20, 2000. The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection (CHIMP) Act will create a national sanctuary system for over 1,000 chimpanzees, many of whom were bred in the mid-1980s when chimps were mistakenly thought to be good models for AIDS research. But while championed by the likes of Jane Goodall and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the CHIMP Act sharply divided the international primate welfare community, with some members objecting to a provision that allows some chimps to be "un-retired" from the sanctuary should a need for more test subjects arise. Said HSUS spokesman Wayne Pacelle: "This is a common-sense solution to a problem for which the federal government bears responsibility. These chimps have suffered enough."

SHEILA SIDDLE PROFILED IN BRITISH MAG
A lengthy profile of Chimfunshi co-founder Sheila Siddle is featured in the latest edition of "New Directions," a British magazine for women over 50 years of age. Entitled "Chimfunshi's Story," the four-page article includes photographs taken by Chimfunshi trustee Steve Robinson and contact