Schedule “A” Project #9 PROJECT SUMMARY

to the Agreement between the Ape Action Africa and the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo.

PROJECT TITLE: Ape Action Africa Project, Mefou National Park, Cameroon

PURPOSE:

Ape Action Africa (“AAA”) is a Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (“PASA”) member sanctuary located in Cameroon. PASA strives to stem the flow of orphaned, injured and displaced primates in Africa; ensure the highest standards of care are provided to those already in sanctuaries; and to work closely with governments and local communities to protect wild primates and their habitat. AAA exemplifies these qualities and is currently home to 24 Western Lowland gorillas, all of which, with the exception of three, are orphans of the bush meat trade. AAA has the second highest gorilla orphan population in PASA, following the Projet Protection des Gorilles in Gabon.

PROJECT OUTLINE: N/A

BACKGROUND:

AAA, formerly Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund, is located in the Mefou National Park about an hour’s drive outside the Cameroon capital of Yaounde. It is home to many great apes and primate species, mostly all victims of the bush meat or pet trade. The project is one of the five PASA member sanctuaries which care for gorillas. Right now it is their gorilla population which is in need of attention. Due to the arrival of three orphans last year and another only days ago, the quarantine area of the forest is being used for the 1.3 gorilla youngsters aged 4 months to 2 years. The adult gorilla enclosure which houses 4.3.1 is in need of a size increase as the males, currently three are 14 years of age each and share a 100 x 100 meter forest enclosure, require more space.

Cameroon is home to the Western Lowland gorilla, the rare Cross River gorilla and the Eastern Lowland gorilla. While there are no reliable numbers as to how many are actually left, the numbers showing up at sanctuaries only speak to the decline. For every infant that is found we know at least the mother has died if not the entire family group. Until the government can secure a safe release site sanctuary is the best option. Perhaps what we learn from caring for the gorillas in a sanctuary can help with caring for those which live in a zoo setting, and vice versa.

Over the past eight years Susan Ebert, a keeper at the Toronto Zoo, has been volunteering with Ape Action Africa and has travelled to Cameroon on five separate occasions for periods of five to thirteen weeks at a time. Some of the work she has been involved with is hand raising western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, olive baboons and civets, working with the adult gorilla keeper providing daily husbandry and maintenance of their enclosure. With the guidance of the project vet, a de-worming program was completed for the entire gorilla and chimpanzee population in the project using oral medication. On two separate occasions she transferred chimpanzees within Cameroon to separate sanctuaries over road via military escort, staying at one project for a week to assist in the transfer/integration. With the project manager and veterinarian, she met with logging concession companies to discuss the problems of deforestation and bush meat. They have also met with local village heads and schools which has helped to expand the education program immensely. She has participated in the Tigress Production of Going Ape which has been aired within the U.K., Australia and Canada on the Discovery/Animal Planet channels. The program was designed to educate the public worldwide about the effects of the bush meat trade in Africa. - 2 -

All of this has allowed her to witness first hand the operation of the AAA project and to personally verify how much work, commitment and dedication the director, manager and employees possess. With the bush meat trade being as energized as ever the orphans are arriving at a rapid pace, increasing the need for sanctuary and education. The education program has grown from a staff of two into a small fleet of officers. More schools and villages have been added into their routines increasing the amount of travel required and supplies needed to educate. In fact, AAA with the help of donors three years ago built a school near the village where the project is located to improve education for the local children.

GOALS & METHODS:

In 2012, AAA received $1500 from the ESRF which helped with their education and veterinary departments. Presently the project is in need of a new quarantine facility, an increase to the size of their gorilla nursery, and an addition to their adult gorilla enclosure. Due to the numerous required modifications, it is requested that any donation be unrestricted allowing the director to use the funds where she feels the most urgency exists.

Note: Upon entry into the projects forest site, there is a wooden structure used by the workers as a meeting place. This structure has a large thank you wall with numerous agencies and organizations from around the world listed. The Toronto Zoo is one of those organizations that has its name painted on the wall.

Anticipated date of completion: January 1, 2015

BUDGET:

The total budget from the Endangered Species Reserve Fund for this larger project is $2,000 US

FUNDING:

Endangered Species Reserve Fund Grant $2,000 US The Grant will be paid upon execution of this Agreement.