Pandrillus is delighted to announce receipt of a generous grant from AUSAid to complete construction of the Nigerian Chimpanzee Center at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain.

The NCC is an 18-hectare solar-powered, electric fenced, natural habitat enclosure that is adjacent to their current 2-hectare enclosure and handling facility. The completion of the NCC will allow for enhanced quality of life for current and future chimpanzees, and better security and working conditions for the chimpanzee keepers. There will also be new educational, interpretive displays for the visiting public to learn about chimpanzee and the challenges they face in the wild.

The AUSAid grant was awarded in 2011 and we have been able to continue construction of the fence line and fabricate materials for the new handling facility.

In December 2011 we were honored to have His Excellency, Ian McConville, High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria, and his family, and the Honorable Tim Holiding, MP for the Victoria State Government, visit us at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain. They were taken on a tour of the NCC and the rest of the project and were able to see what an important contribution the Australian High Commission is making to the conservation of the Nigerian Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), the most endangered of all chimpanzee subspecies. (For more information about this special chimpanzee, please see our Chimpanzee page under the Cross-Sanaga Region tab.)

Pandrillus heartily thanks AUSAid and the Australian High Commission for their enthusiasm and support for the NCC, Drill Ranch and the protection of biodiversity in Nigeria.

Construction of the NCC is due for completion by the end of 2012.