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Lwiro Primate Research Centre

Lwiro primate research center is a primate rehabilitation center located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This rehabilitation center was created in 2002 by Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and Centre de Recherché en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN) as a place to promote conservation of primates including the orphaned primates.

Between 1998 and 2004 as a result of war in Democratic Republic of Congo there was an increase in poaching which is still a danger to the various primate species in the country. Among the key areas which the Lwiro primate research center covers include promoting conservation and rehabilitation of the primates. Different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) assist in effecting the work at the research center and some of these organizations include Coopera, the Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance (ICWCA), Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) among others.

Apart from promoting conservation and education, other activities which Lwiro primate research center is associated with include rescue, rehabilitation, and planned reintroduction of confiscated wildlife, community development, health, and sanitation projects, research programs and activities, local and international tourism and also collaboration with local and international organizations.

The education aspect at Lwiro primate research centre entails awareness programs where the locals as well as foreigners are taught about the environment and conservation as the visitors get to see the primates. Some of the education initiatives include roots and shoots groups which are mostly for children who get to be educated about the environment.

The police and military are also part of the awareness programs of the Lwiro primate research center and they are trained about the wildlife law and how they play an important role in protecting the wildlife in Congo.

Lwiro primate research centre is home to 109 chimpanzees and over 16 species of monkeys. Among the animals which are protected at Lwiro is the eastern chimpanzee, turtles, porcupines and also parrots. The Lwiro primate research centre can be visited during tours to Kahuzi Biega national park which is home to the eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The center is located about 4 kilometers from Kahuzi Biega national park.

Poaching is a major problem which is faced by the primates which are rescued by the members of the Lwiro primate research center. This is because the chimpanzees are hunted by poachers for meat which is later sold in the local markets while some of the chimpanzees are kept a pets although it is illegal in Congo. When the primates which are taken into illegal captivity by poachers are retrieved by the Lwiro primate research centre, they are taken care of and later reintroduced into their natural forested habitat. Some of these primates are rescued by the Congolese wildlife authority and taken to Lwiro.

The primates at the Lwiro primate research centre are fed and taken care of by a team of keepers. The center provides jobs to about 55 staff from the local community which helps to fight the issue of unemployment among the Congolese. Some of the employees at the Lwiro center are victims of sexual abuse and are given employment as a way of rehabilitation. Over 3000 USD is used per month to buy food for the primates at Lwiro which is another way of supporting the local community since the items are got from the local markets.

Part of the team at Lwiro primate research center includes 3 vets who take care of the health of the primates while other members of the team take care of the infant primates and other look after the adult and juvenile primates. There are also cooks, buyers and domestic helpers who work at the Lwiro primate research center. This group ensures that both staff and the primates are well fed everyday. Another way that the Lwiro primate research center supports the local community is through projects which provide alternative income sources for the locals, women empowerment and education among other project.

The team at Lwiro primate research center is also trained in animal husbandry and more trainings are carried out to equip the team with necessary skills to look after the primates in rehabilitation. These trainings are done with the help of veterinary doctors in Congo.

Some of the sponsors that work with Lwiro primate research center include The Arcus Foundation, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, The Jane Goodall Institute, Colchester Zoo, Brigitte Bardot Foundation, The World Parrot Trust (WPT), Ecotrend Ecologics, Omogolo Wildlife Trust and many others.

Apart from monetary aid and funds from the sponsors, Lwiro primate research center also works with different partners. The center also accepts help to the primates in kind especially for items which can not be got locally. you might be interested in Ngamba chimpanzee island

The estimated number of primates kept at the Lwiro primate research center in the Democratic Republic of Congo is 107 in number. It is also the only place in the Democratic Republic of Congo which accepts to take in all the monkey species.

The primates of different species which are taken care of at the Lwiro primate research center include the olive baboons, yellow baboon, owl face monkey, l´hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, black crested mangabey, agilis mangabey, patas monkey, brazza monkey, Allen´s swamp monkey, tantalus monkey, malbrouck monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, mona monkey and also the red-tailed monkeys.

How to get to Lwiro primate research center

Lwiro primate research center is located in the southern province of Kivu about 50 km from Bukavu. Buses from Kigali up to Rusizi boarder with Dr Congo you can use another bus from Congo side to Lwiro primate centre