PASA’s 2013 Education Workshop was attended by 25 conservation educators from PASA member sanctuaries across Africa.   Facilitators and trainers came from Africa, Canada and the United States. Attendees identified and explored sources of conflict over primates and natural resources in their communities, and they challenged each other to develop methods to address these issues.  They also worked on programs that teach local communities about the value of protecting native forests and wildlife and about halting the bushmeat and pet trades.

It’s incredibly inspiring to hear about the impact these programs are having.  Member sanctuaries reach hundreds of thousands of children and their parents across 12 African countries with programs that build respect for local wildlife and conservation…and it’s working!  Lola ya Bonobo (DRC) recently had a former bushmeat hunter arrive at their center to turn in his gun, because he said he now realizes it is a mistake to kill bonobos and other endangered animals.  A Vervet Monkey Foundation (South Africa) educator was stopped by a mother in the grocery store who told her how much she appreciated the Foundation’s work to teach her children to care for local wildlife.  These are just a few examples of how PASA sanctuaries and PASA conservation education and community collaboration training truly make a difference.   Read full article.

The 10th annual PASA Veterinary Workshop was hosted by PASA member sanctuary Limbe Wildlife Centre in Limbe, Cameroon. PASA provides this training free to its member sanctuaries, and encourages attendance at reduced cost for other African vets and vet technicians.  Our goal is to improve the care, welfare and protection of Africa’s primates and to inspire concern for the welfare and conservation of African wildlife.

The workshop brought together 33 delegates from across Africa along with 6 other veterinary and medical experts from around the world.  PASA vet coordinator Steve Unwin, Limbe veterinarian John Kiyang and other experts provided advanced skills training for veterinarians and veterinarian technicians from throughout Africa.  The PASA veterinary workshop is renowned as an opportunity for vets and vet technicians from across Africa to interact with and learn from each other and from a global team of specialists and other primate veterinary experts, training and camaraderie that they would otherwise not receive.

The focus of the workshop this year was on wildlife disease prevention including managing a disease outbreak, disease risk analysis and treatment, and orthopedic and cardiac medical procedures.  Delegates also talked with the Cameroon Wildlife Ministry's Veterinary Official about collaborative efforts to inspire African vets and vet students to become involved in wildlife medicine issues and conservation.  Read full article.

PASA trainings and community program initiatives are made possible in part by public donations from friends like you.  Thank you for your contributions!

PASA and the global primate conservation community mourn the tragic and unexpected passing of Dr. Bettina Sallé, a key young primate conservation community member in Franceville, Gabon.  Dr. Sallé was passionately committed to animal welfare and primate conservation advocacy; an accomplished veterinarian, academic and primatologist; and an exceptionally inspirational friend to many within PASA and the conservation community.  Read the full press release.

PASA is the only network of wildlife sanctuaries working across Africa to empower local people to protect primates and their forest homes.  Africa’s primates are rapidly disappearing. African chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and monkeys are sold as bushmeat, and their babies are illegally sold as pets.  PASA and its 22 member sanctuaries care for and rehabilitate primates confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade; and engage local communities, law enforcement and governments to support primate protection and halt the illegal trade and poaching threatening Africa’s primates with extinction.  Visit us at www.pasaprimates.org or on facebook.