|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keeping us on our toes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It’s not central Africa,
but it’s definitely second prize. This is how
Dries Pienaar, CITES and Projects Specialist for
the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency,
describes JGI SA Chimpanzee Eden. Dries is
intimately involved. He’s ruthless when it comes
to laying down the law – but he firmly believes
in the value of the Sanctuary and has stuck his
neck out for us on several occasions.
When the Sanctuary was first mooted it attracted
much opposition – both from government and
welfare/conservation organisations.
“Much of the negativity was because chimpanzees
are not indigenous to South Africa,” says Dries.
“However, they are endemic to Africa and we have
the infrastructure that many other countries
don’t. This was my motivation, and helped me
field all the opposition, some of which came
from ministerial level.
“I always believed the Sanctuary was right and
fought hard to make it happen. We had the vision
to see the bigger picture and help the plight of
the great apes. Mpumalanga is an ideal place for
the Sanctuary as the Lowveld is very close to
the chimps’ natural habitat. I knew it was
definitely the best second prize we could get
for the chimps.”
Dries says that the Sanctuary has been a huge
achievement, and that he has personally derived
much satisfaction from seeing the good it is
doing.
“My reward is seeing chimps arriving with marks
from the chains they’ve had around their necks,
and knowing they will soon be running around in
a large enclosure. This makes it all
worthwhile.”
Dries’ main role is to ensure that the Sanctuary
complies with The Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulations.
He also chairs our Ethics Committee.
“Because chimps are a ‘CITES 1’ species* they
are very high profile,” says Dries. “The
Sanctuary also has a high profile because of its
association with world famous primatologist Dr
Jane Goodall, and because of the popular
television series, Escape to Chimp Eden.
“We therefore ensure very tight controls, and I
was ruthless during the initial stages of the
project,” he says. “I couldn’t afford for anyone
to make even the smallest mistake. But with the
JGI SA Chimpanzee Eden team we overcame the many
obstacles - and today we can actually see the
results of our efforts .”
* Species can be listed under the CITES
Convention on one of three Appendices. Appendix
I includes all species threatened with
extinction which are or may be affected by
trade. Trade in specimens of these species must
be subject to particularly strict regulation in
order not to further endanger their survival and
must only be authorized in exceptional
circumstances.
|
|
|
|
|
©
Jane Goodall Institute South Africa |
|
