EXTRA: OBJ donates ‘Patience’ to animal centre

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has donated Patience, a chimpanzee in his Wildlife Park, to Pandrillus Foundation, a conservation organisation.

According to Liza Gadsby and Peter Jenkins, founders of the organisation, the former president said he decided to place the three-year old animal in the care of Pandrillus because he realised the special care needs of chimpanzees.

They said Obasanjo wants Patience to grow up in the forest as part of the large chimpanzee group at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain.

The founders, who have been operating in Nigeria since 1988, said Obasanjo visited Drill Ranch in 2001, and made a follow-up visit in 2011. They thanked the former president for his gesture, and pledged to take care of the animal.

“Patience is a fantastic chimpanzee who has been well cared for by the staff of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park,” they said.

“Once she has completed her medical screening in Calabar, she will join the group at the newly completed Nigerian Chimpanzee Center – located at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain in Boki LGA of Cross River state.

“Pandrillus thanks Mr. President and his staff for their logistical support and hospitality during Peter and Liza’s working visit. Welcome, Patience!”

Pandrillus said it has embraced the challenge of preventing the extinction of the highly endangered drill monkey Mandrillus leucophaeus, and its mission has expanded to include chimpanzees, and other wildlife that share the drill’s habitat.