NEWS

January 3, 2004

So I'm back from another stay in Cameroon. I met many new victims of the bushmeat trade. 7 New chimps arrived since last year. The youngest chimp was about 4 months when she arrived. You can see most of my pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/mirjamschot

January 9, 2003

Only 11 days before I leave! I started practising my packing skills. It's amazing how much can fit in a suitcase if you pack with care. Hopefully my luggage will arrive together with me this time. I'm prepared though if things go wrong! The good thing about returning to a project is that you know what to bring and what to leave at home! If you would like to get updates from the site, feel free to join my mailing list. So far I'm only sending out dutch updates...

December 3, 2002

A lot has happened and a lot still has to happen! Only 7 weeks before I'm going. I made my website bilangual, because I have a lot of Dutch visitors! It's almost Christmas and if you don't know what you can give you friends, family or loved ones: I know something! Adopt a chimpanzee! For only $15 a month you support a chimpanzee of the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center! 

October 13, 2002

I called this site "people of the forest", just because, in my presentations in the villages of Cameroon I would refer to the chimps as "people of the forest". My parents are moving and we started to unpack all the old boxes in the attic. The first box my father unpacked contained video tapes. On one of them the following text was written:

"People of the forest - Jane Goodall - Do not clear this is about chimpanzees". I must have recorded this around 1994??? Way before I started my study of the Arnhem chimps! I also found one of the things I forgot to take with me to Cameroon the last time. My chimpanzee Ehtogram. I will bring it this time! 

October 6, 2002

A year ago on this Sunday, I met my new chimpanzee friends. I never would have thought that they would have such an impact on my life.They will be in my heart forever. I see there faces every day. The last one I see is Simon, since his face forms the background of my computer. And shutting down the computer is about the last thing I do before I go to bed. Unfortunately, time doesn't pass quickly. I thought by being really busy it would, but it doesn't. Still 3,5 month to go!

Meanwhile I'm still collecting links to volonteer opportunities. If you know what to search for you can find a lot of them on the Internet. I hope they are of us to the visitors of my website!

August 27, 2002

I will leave Januari 20, 2003! I ordered my ticket, so it's final!!! I added a new page to my website, with all kinds of links to volunteer opportunities around the world. I collected all these links when I started my search for a volunteer position last year. It's about time I share them! 

Since I left the Sanaga-Yong center (so in 5 months!!!) 6 new babies arrived. It's a terrible thought that for every baby that arrives, a mother chimp and possibly other chimps die in the bushmeat trade! The fortunate babies arrive at the center, but what about the babies that don't arrive? How many infants die because they are dehydrated, badly wounded or depressed? How many apes are kept as pets in Cameroon? Please take a quick look at this site.

August 8, 2002

At least I can fill my time with preparing. I started to improve my French, which is necessary. And I'm going to do a photography course. I could have had much better pictures if I had actually known what I was doing! At least I had enough film! I brought 30 rolls of film with me, of which I used 26 rolls. The thing I didn't bring was my extra zoom lens (80 ~ 240). HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!! I will never leave it again. I left it at home to save some weight in my luggage. I could bring 30 kilos, and my bags were completely full! Americans are so lucky. They can bring 2 bags of 32 kilos when they fly to Africa (or wherever). I could only bring 20 kilos at first, but Sabena sponsored me for another 10 kg! Too bad Sabena went bankrupt and I had to buy a new (Air France) ticket!

August 2, 2002

I've decided to return to Cameroon! I still have about 5,5 month to prepare, because I will leave mid-january!!!!!!! I can hardly wait. I look forward to see all the chimps again. Will they recognize me? Some of them were really young when I was there. There have also been some new arrivals.