CHIMFUNSHI SANCTUARY

Chimfunshi Sanctuary, in Zambia, is the largest sanctuary of chimpanzees in Africa. The history of the sanctuary and of family Siddle, which founded and manages it, is also linked to the history of hippo baby called Billy (they thought it was a female and put this name wrongly).

Billy, Chimfunshi and the chimpanzees grew up together. When he arrived at the farm of Siddle family he weighted 32kg, had been born 5 days before and his mother had been killed by hunters. Wounded and starving, Billy got the attention he needed and completed 20 years old on January 1st

In the beginning Billy used to enter every day at the Siddle`s kitchen looking for his adoptive mother, Sheila Siddle, and the hot milk in a huge baby bottle. In a certain moment his body, which today weights more than one ton, did not enter through the door and he had to wait outside for the desired milk.

Every night Billy goes to the river looking, hopeless, for someone of his species. Early in the morning he is back of his night walk and hungry goes for his adoptive mother, who waits for him with the giant milk baby bottle, vegetables and fruits. He eats and sleeps all day, until the following night.

The night keeper observes the walks of Billy and on January 12 he noticed that Billy was not normal. He was agitated, walking more carefully and looking at his back. Then it was discovered a big wild hippo together with him. It was not possible to check if it was a male or a female. For decades people did not see hippos in that area and everyone supposed they were extinct. But Billy discovered the last one of his species, which still wanders with no direction, waiting the day he can be hunted, like his equals were.

Billy now has his secret friend, with whom he meets in the night at the river or around it. Maybe Billy discovered the last wild hippo of the jungles of Zambia.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian
President, GAP Project International