By Fernando Turmo | Communications Coordinator
Ngoro was rescued and brought to Tchimpounga in 2005. She was confiscated by the wildlife authorities in Pointe Noire. Like many rescued chimpanzees brought to Tchimpounga, Ngoro was very thin and depressed. She sat hugging herself and was barely able to move. The staff worked very hard to rehabilitate her, not only physically, but also psychologically. Once she had recovered enough, she was integrated with the four other chimpanzees that had arrived that year. After which, they were integrated into larger social group of chimpanzees of similar age.
Ngoro has also struggled with health problems. She would usually be the first to get sick in her chimpanzee group, and never really put on weight like the others. After many tests, she was found to have gastric ulcers. The origin of the ulcers is unknown –they could be due to her poor health before being rescued, or not being able to handle the stress of a big social group. Regardless, the Tchimpounga team decided she needed to live with a smaller social group, one where she could manage her stress as best as possible, while still having the company of other chimpanzees.
The first move was to put her with Podive, another chimpanzee who has special health issues and has to be separated from the larger social groups. At night time, Podive and Ngoro were neighbours with chimpanzees named La Vielle and Lemba, and some of the other younger chimpanzees. As smart as they are, many chimpanzees are escape artists and manage to jump from one enclosure to another; despite all attempts to prevent them from doing so. Ngoro, is one of those chimpanzees who likes to do so, and often got herself into the same enclosure as La Vielle and Lemba. She loved the time she had with the younger chimpanzees, and especially her time with Lemba.
Ngoro is also a very empathetic chimpanzee, one who has been very caring of others. Another one of her neighbours was Lounama, who has a heart condition. As such a caring chimpanzee, Ngoro would often share her food through the mesh to Lounama. While this was a lovely gesture, unfortunately it could not be allowed to continue, because Lounama needs to remain on a very strict diet due to her heart condition. So, the team decided it was better to let Ngoro go and live with La Vieille and Lemba. This would allow her to continue being the caring and social chimpanzee that she is, without putting Lounama at risk. This has been a great treat for both Ngoro and Lemba, who have become very close over the last few months
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