|
Wildlife
photographer Jacques Goosen decided he liked
‘the whole chimp thing’ after working with
chimps for the first time for television
documentary, 50/50 at Chimpanzee Eden.
So when Chimpanzee Eden managing director Eugene
Cussons asked Jacques to accompany him to film
the Angolan chimp rescue, he leapt at the
chance. Little did he know that this time ‘the
whole chimp thing’ would mainly involve day
after dreary day of frustrating bureaucracy!
And not only that, the first chimp to be
rescued, Zacharius, took a violent dislike to
Jacques’ lighting, hurled sand at his camera
– and caused R5000 worth of damage!
Jacques’ company, the Southern African Natural
History Unit (Sanhu), is a high-end television
production and photographic company based in the
Kruger National Park. Jacques joined Eugene and
his team in Angola in late November to film the
mission for 50/50. It turned out to be quite an
experience!
Their Angolan adventure began in a total
downpour when they had to rescue the half-built
chimp crates from a muddy alley in Luanda, and
get them under cover before they were
irreparably damaged.
This was followed by days of tedious paperwork
and red tape for Eugene - and days avoiding
being imprisoned or having his cameras
confiscated for Jacques. First he was kicked out
of the Ministry of Agriculture for wearing
shorts. Then he was stopped on the road for
filming an interview with Eugene and threatened
with arrest. Finally he had to dodge rocks as he
filmed from the back of the truck as the rescue
team finally headed to rescue the five chimps.
And in-between all the excitement? He waited,
and waited and waited!
“Eugene has so much patience – I take my hat
off to him!” says Jacques. “You cannot
believe what he had to endure in Angola, but in
spite of being so young, he handles it all so
well. He is is absolutely the best person to do
this as he never loses his cool. The closest he
came to expressing his frustration was when –
with our flight booked for 7am the following day
- we had spent the entire day at Customs
(again!) and he still didn’t have the permits
for the chimps.
“He is absolutely passionate about what he
does, and the best person to work with.”
Visit Jacques’ Web site at www.sanhu.co.za |
|
