GAP Project participates of PASA Workshop

posted in 29 May 2009

COLUMBUS, OHIO, USA

On May 19-21, PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) promoted a Management Workshop at Columbus, Ohio, United States. This meeting had two special characteristics: apart from celebrating PASA’s 10th anniversary, it was the first workshop of the alliance held outside Africa.

GAP Project Brazil/International participated of the workshop this year, aiming to know better the reality of African sanctuaries and to help in the improvement of the process of spreading information about the rights of great primates all over the world.

The first participation of GAP Brazil in a PASA event was held in 2002, when the chimpanzees’ sanctuaries were beginning their activities in the country. Now, in Columbus, GAP had the chance to meet in personal a lot of specialists who work at African sanctuaries and to show a little bit about the work developed in Brazil, which puts a start in a global contact net about great primates’ protection.

The workshop was attended by the managers of the 18 primates sanctuaries affiliated to PASA, among them some renowned names, such as Sheila Siddle, founder of Chimfunshi Sanctuary, in Zambia, and Claudine André, manger of Lola Ya Bonobo, in Congo, the sanctuary for bonobos. One of the main subjects discussed was the importance of education and information programs with the local communities, aiming the goal of conservation.

The first two days were closed, only to the members of the sanctuaries, PASA and a few other institutions that were invited. Each manager reported the work on his/her sanctuary, telling about the last successes and the main challenges previewed, and some issues about PASA actuation were also brought up.

Siddle-Marsdem Prize: The last day of the workshop was a public forum and had more detailed presentations of the work on the sanctuaries, among them the latest experience with reintroduction of chimpanzees in the wild.

The forum also had a moment for the presentation of Siddle-Marsdem Prize 2009, awarded by PASA, which this year recognizes the work of Anne Marie Ngadula, from the team of Lola Ya Bonobo. Anne Marie could not travel to US because was not able to get a visa and the prize was offered by Sheila Siddle on her behalf to Claudine André, director of the sanctuary.

The workshop was concluded with a lecture presented by Richard Wrangham, professor from HarvardUniversity and author of the book “Chimpanzee Cultures”. The grand finale was a cash bar and a silent auction open to all participants, who had the chance to purchase products donated by the sanctuaries.

“Several sanctuaries together are stronger than one alone. And we are very proud we can unite all this strength through PASA”, pointed out, several times, Doug Cress, PASA executive director. “After 10 years of hard work, we do not have any doubts to affirm that education, information, conservation and law enforcement are so important as primates protection actions”, concluded.

Jaqueline B. Ramos
Communications Manager

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