January 2008: In this installment of “Letters from Claudine,” she describes the difficulties of preparing for what will become for the first successful re-release of bonobos into the wild. Below she narrates some of the steps taken to ensure Lola ya Bonobo’s bonobos didn’t bring new illnesses into wild populations. She also shares the joy of being recognized for her team’s fabulous work saving bonobos!
So far, so good! January was a quiet month at Lola. Crispin [Lola’s veterinarian at the time] continued administering the vaccinations required by the IUCN guidelines for the release of apes into the forest. Westerners are now strictly following all the rules and regulations which become more and more demanding each year (a strategy to have more and more experts perhaps?). I was indeed surprised to see that before releasing the bonobos from Lola, in addition to the many other tests required, we now need to check them for traces of the Ebola virus! When you consider that each time a vaccine and its booster shots are administered, the 60 bonobos here at Lola have to be anesthetized – you can get an idea of how much work is involved! Being neither a scientist nor a doctor, I comply with these demands in order to pursue my efforts to see the bonobos return to the forest.
At the end of January, I was given the title of Notable (or VIP) in my village of Kimwenza. Of this, I am very proud! The ceremony was simple but attended by the mayor. Through me, Kimwenza pays homage to us all! The Lola ya Bonobo project now has an important place in the community. What more could we ask for? It is recognition for all of us.
Finally, as a local NGO representative I was invited by the Environment Minister to join him on a trip through Equateur Province with a British delegation, including the Special Envoy of the British Prime Minister and the British Ambassador to the DRC. Our first stop was Basankusu, where we were met by Jef Dupain of African Wildlife Foundation. After presenting various environmental projects, we all took a ride down a stretch of the dark and beautiful Lopori River. Our journey then took us to Mbandaka for a trip with the Governor of the Province along the shore of Lake Tumba towards Bikoro.
Kendra is a creative problem-solver who provides executive and operational support across the organization. As Executive Assistant to Ariel Rogers, she manages scheduling, communications, and day-to-day priorities while also supporting the development and communications teams with administrative and operational needs.
Kathleen Cook brings more than nine years of experience working across Africa, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she has traveled over twenty times to support projects spanning conservation, clean energy, and community development. Her career has centered around using storytelling, strategic marketing, and relationship-building to create meaningful impact.
