Save the drill
20 February 2020
Did you know we are members of the ”Save the Drill” association? The association's purpose is to collectively promote and preserve the highly endangered drill monkeys in their natural habitat. The association supports both the drill monkeys and the nature and environment they live in.
An important part of the work to save drill monkeys is carried out by the organisation Pandrillus, which operates in Nigeria at the so-called Drill Ranch. At the ranch in Nigeria, the organisation looks after just over 600 drill monkeys that have their home in the area surrounding the ranch. For the past 30 years, Pandrillus staff at the ranch have dedicated their lives to standing up for the drill monkeys and actively working to protect one of Nigeria's most beautiful places, the very place that is also the drill monkeys' home. Following a series of terrible events, the Drill Ranch and Pandrillus currently need all the help they can get to continue their work in saving drill monkeys. Read on below to understand more.
We have previously told you about the work being carried out at the ”Drill Ranch” in Nigeria to save the drill from extinction. In 2017, the ranch was hit by two severe storms that left it in ruins. With the help of donations, including from us at Parken Zoo, the ranch was rebuilt, and the work to help the drills on site in Nigeria could continue.
We have once again received terrible news from the drill ranch. At the end of December 2019, the ranch was plundered. The local police were immediately involved and two suspects were arrested. During a police transport to a nearby police station, a serious traffic accident occurred in which one of the suspects and the driver died. All witnesses and 6 police officers are being treated in hospital following the traffic accident.
A few days later, the ranch was attacked by a large gang of men who literally tore the ranch apart. They attacked and beat the ranch staff, who were chained up and seriously injured during the assault.
The ranch has been guarded since then, day and night, by armed police, but the staff live in constant fear of what will happen next.
The staff are struggling to patch up the ranch bit by bit. But as you understand, the need for both labour and financial donations is great. Park Zoo continues to support the ”save the drill” association financially. If you want to help too, or learn more about the work involved in saving the drills, please go to save-the-drill.org
Today, the drill is classified as critically endangered in the wild and is one of the species included in EAZA's breeding conservation project. Within the project in European zoos, there are currently 44 males and 56 females. In the picture, you can see the female drill Hakuna Matata, who lives with us here at Parken Zoo. Parken Zoo participates in the European breeding programme to conserve the drill.