The third week of February, Dr. Methode Bahizi, Gorilla Doctors Regional Laboratory Veterinarian, flew to Cameroon to attend the annual Pan African Sanctuary Alliance conference at the Limbe Wildlife Center. Dr. Methode joined some 30 captive primate experts from the US, UK and around Africa. The Limbe Wildlife Center is home to a variety of critically endangered wildlife species including the ellioti chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), the drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus), the western lowland (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Cross River (G.g.diehli) gorillas, several species of long-tailed monkeys, including the locally endemic Preuss’s guenon (Cercopithecus preussi), and various reptile and bird species.

Dr. Methode presents at the 2013 PASA conference in Cameroon.

“Representing Gorilla Doctors at the PASA conference and having the honor to give a presentation on our biosecurity measures for captive orphaned gorillas was very exciting for me” said Dr. Methode. “But also flying to another part of Africa was an amazing opportunity! The conference was very beneficial for my work. Apart from learning about the many things that are happening in the African primate world and in African sanctuaries, I was exposed to many practical sessions: in parasitology, cardiology, orthopedics and basic surgery… all things that really apply to my daily activities with Gorilla Doctors. I would really like to thank Gorilla Doctors for this incredible learning opportunity.”

About the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance:

PASA‘s 22 member sanctuaries care for and rehabilitate apes and monkeys confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade. PASA sanctuaries across Africa care for orphaned chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, drills, baboons and other endangered primates.  They train and assist sanctuaries in developing education programs that engage community residents in 12 African nations in protecting their forests and wild primates. They provide funds and training for sanctuaries to develop programs to give local people economic alternatives to bushmeat hunting and selling primates. www.pasaprimates.org

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