Akiba’s family was shot by hunters and being too small to be eaten, Akiba was kept to be sold as a pet. One of the hunters had been keeping her for six weeks in terrible conditions when she was discovered by the manager of Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Sanctuary and confiscated in collaboration with MINEF officials. After a three days journey by rail and road, she finally arrived safely at the LWC. She had an infected finger and a ringworm on her head. After her recovery she was adopted by Nyango who gave her the confidence and mothering she needed to become an outgoing and carefree youngster.