We recieve a lot of great feedback from volunteers and project partners, here is what some of them had to say...

"Working with the animals was my favourite part of the trip, especially the relocating of the leopard and hyena. Enrichment! I loved it, it really was a worthwhile opportunity grasped!"
Hannah Graham, Malawi Wildlife Summer 2007

"The people we got to meet, our tour guides, the people at the camp and Lee were all amazing and helped to achieve some real progress! We constructed enclosures for the blue monkeys from Holland, which involved nailing, building platforms, securing bits of wood in the group, making rope swings etc. We also worked on the carnivore enclosures doing similar work. We worked with the baboons and vervet monkeys i.e. cleaning cages, preparing and giving food, sweeping, and some contact with the ones who aren't allowed out. We helped collect the blue monkeys from the airport, and actually assisted with moving the leopard and hyena from the zoo into the Centre (so exciting!) we got to go right in and monitor heart rate, breathing etc, generally just assisted the vet, then hopped in the truck with them in boxes and took them to their new homes. We then got to see the ones we helped collect go into their new enclosures, which is very satisfying and exciting!"
Kate Goy, Malawi Wildlife Summer 2007

"I loved working with 'Lucky' a rescued, mistreated, young baboon, I was given responsibility for his care and medication! Quest provided a safe way to do things I've always wanted to do but couldn't do alone. Excellent!"
Rebecca Buckley, Malawi Wildlife Summer 2007

Update from July 2007 team

"Hi Beth!
We are living in tents in a campsite next to the river, we have a cook who changes occasionally but who prepares 3 meals a day for us (yay) and does washing too! It's all very cosy and nice and communal etc.

The work we are doing varies; we've done construction on the enclosures for the blue monkeys from Holland, which involved nailing, buildling platforms, securing bits of wood in the group, making rope swings etc. We've also worked on the carnivore enclosures doing similar work. We've worked with the baboons and vervet monkeys i.e. cleaning cages, preparing and giving food, sweeping, and some contact with the ones who aren't allowed out.

We've been involved with collecting the blue monkeys from the airport, and actually just this morning assisted with moving the leopard and hyena from the zoo into the Centre (so exciting!) we got to go right in and monitor heartrate, breathing etc, generally just assisted the vet, then hopped in the truck with them in boxes and took them to their new homes. We then get to see the ones we've helped collect go into their new enclosures which is very satisfying and exciting!

We've just come back from our weekend off at Lake Malawi which was very beautiful and very chilled, sunbathing and reading to our hearts' content to make up for the early morning starts. We're all fine and having a fab time! Speak soon! Kate xx"

Bushdog's Big Day!  - January 2008
At the end of 2007, the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary Zoo, across the road from our centre, waved goodbye to it's final resident; Bushdog the Nile Crocodile.

Bushdog had come to the Zoo from a crocodile farm in Nkhotakota that had gone out of business in the early 90's. During the 12 or so years that he had spent in his small zoo cage, the staff that knew his story had moved on, so little else is known about him. The zoo staff couldn't even tell us if he was male or female!

Moving Bushdog the small distance from the zoo to his new enclousre at the Wildlife Centre was no small feat. With the Guidance of an experienced crocodile catcher from the Department of Parks & Wildlife, it took a group of 15 Wildlife Centre staff and volunteers.

First of all, a rope was slipped over Bushdogs head and one front leg. He was then allowed to thrash and roll until so exhausted that a smaller rope could safely be placed over his jaws and tied tight. Although this sounds a traumatic procedure, it is by far the quickest way to move a crocodile of this size and no harm came to him during the capture. A towel over his eyes then rendered him calm and allowed the rest of the team to carefully tie his powerful back legs and carry him to the truck. At 3 metres in length, it took all our collective strength to carry him!

After the 10 minute drive, Bushdog was carried into his new home. Before untying him he was checked over to see that he was in good shape and in order to determine his gender. This was done by feeling inside a slit on the underbelly. Our crocodile expert felt the small protuberance within which showed that Bushdog was male.

When we were satisified that all was well with Bushdog, all the ropes were removed, before finally taking off the towel covering his eyes. In under a minute, he was in his pond and has been happily settling into his new surroundings ever since.

January 2008 - The Centre's First Release
With the New Year, the Wildlife Centre moved into a new phase. 2008 will see many of the animals at the Centre released back into the wild. Ng'azi the water monitor lizard was the first lucky animal to benefit from our release programme and was returned to the wild on January 10th.

Ng'azi was brought to us by a Lilongwe resident who had found him in his garden. His front legs were injured; looking as if he had been beaten with a stick in an attempt to kill him. Water monitors can get quite aggressive if approached, capable of delivering a powerful whipping with their long tails, so killing them is fairly common occurrence.

Ng'azi was put into quarantine at the Wildlife Centre and each day fed a raw egg. He responded well to this nutritious diet and in under a month was strong enough to climb all around his enclosure and was regularly seen doing push-ups! If this wasn't a clear enough signal, the fact the Centre's carer's could no longer get close enough to him to feed him due to his aggressive behaviour convinced us that it was time to return him to the wild.

The 'Wilderness Zone' of Lilongwe's Nature Sanctuary icomplex has many native water monitors so it is clearly good habitat for them. The Lingandzi river runs through it and there is plentiful vegetation cover for hiding and insects and small mammals for eating. In short, a perfect place for Ng'azi.

With a small amount of ushering from Andy (the resident who found him) and Remke (a volunteer who had been caring for him) Ng'azi the water monitor scrambled into the crate we chose to move him in. He was less keen to leave it and only with plenty of tail whipping and hissing did he regain his freedom. But as soon as he was out, he vanished into the undergrowth and was gone. A job well done!

New monkeys arrive from Israel

Arie (means lion), male 12-13 years old is thought to have been born in Sudan, smuggled to Egypt and bought in the market in Cairo by two Israelis who tried to smuggle him into Israel through he Sinai. He was found on the border and was brought to our sanctuary as a baby. Yet the customs officer who saw the small primate informed us that we should prepare for a marmoset. When he arrived at our sanctuary we saw he was a sweet baby vervet. The authorities wanted to euthanize him in fear of zoonotic diseases. We fought for his life, and had all possible tests done for him, proving he was a "clean" monkey.  He was then supposed to fly to AAP to join a group there but at schipol airport there was a problem and poor Arie was sent home on the next plain.  In the sanctuary he slowly learned how to live with other monkeys

Or (which means light) was confiscated from a children's boarding school. Together with a female macaque, the two were purchased together (the salesman told the buyers that the difference between the two is the difference between the sexes!)

Nakima was smuggled into Israel from Africa and lived in a petting zoo until we got a call telling us there is a monkey in bad condition in the petting zoo. When we arrived we found she had a bleeding tail and was vomiting. We immediately took her to the sanctuary. She has a dominant nature.

Peleg was confiscated from a nursery. Unfortunately his "wife" and child were confiscated only lately and we hope they will soon join Peleg in Malawi

Manny was smuggled into Israel from Ukraine with the family he lived with. He was confiscated after biting his owner very badly - she was hospitalized. After many years alone, Manny now has to learn how to live with his new friends

Bay came to us from a petting zoo where he was treated badly.

Zhai and Ronny were confiscated from a private house. They were originally sold by a petting zoo when they were babies.

Atsmona and Morag were taken to the sanctuary after Israel left the Gaza strip.  With them also arrived macaque monkeys and olive baboons.

Natasha lived in a house for over 15 years. Her illegal owners felt they wanted to end their life with monkeys (better late than never!)

Gosha came to our sanctuary from a small illegal circus.  His owners brought him to us realizing it was wrong to continue with the circus

Diana was brought very ill from a petting zoo. She was almost dead.  Our vet operated on her finding that her womb was infected and was infecting all close organs. She almost didn't survive the operation but with a lot of care and love she came through the difficult period of rehabilitation

Yagur came from a petting zoo.

Rafiki ran away from a petting zoo

Shelly (1-2 years old) was confiscated from a home.  The owner received her as a birthday present (we do not know her origin) and brought her to our vet for tests. Our vet managed to persuade him to give her up.

Peretz came from a petting zoo

Eylon was confiscated from a drug dealer. When he arrived he had a leash tight to his stomach which injured him. He was petrified of people and monkeys.

Gina was confiscated from a brothel.  She was part of a big group that was smuggled from Africa through Jordan to Israel.

Easy was found running in the roads of Petch Tikva a town next to Tel Aviv. He must have run away from his illegal owners. He is also one of the big group smuggled from Jordan.