All of the wild animals rescued by the LWC are victims of the illegal trades in bush-meat and pets. Typically a nursing mother, often a primate, will be shot by a hunter and butchered for bush meat. Her young offspring, not having a value as a source of meat, will be kept alive and taken from the forest and offered for sale as a pet. At some point in this cycle the LWC will be made aware of the illegally sold pet and, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will instigate a seizure. On arrival at the LWC the young animals are often in a terrible condition and require specialist veterinary care. Once they have been stabilised young primates will spend three months in quarantine after which they will be carefully introduced into a social group with other members of their own species. Non-primate species, such as birds, reptiles or small mammals (civet cats etc.) are often released back in to their natural habitat as soon as they are deemed fit enough to survive on their own.
In 2009 Limbe Wildlife Centre received 4 chimpanzees, 7 monkeys, 503 African grey parrots and several other non-primates. In 2008 the Limbe Wildlife Centre rescued 14 primates (2 chimpanzees and 12 long-tailed monkeys) and 70 non-primates. However the year 2007 will be remembered as the year that 5 gorillas and 1220 African grey parrots arrived within a single 2 week period. More detailed information about the numbers and species of the animals rescued can be found in the updates and annual reports.
