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Caretaker Ephraim Ngiribwa tends to baby orphaned chimpanzees at Lwiro Primates centre in Lwiro, South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 05 March 2020. (issued 17 March 2020) Chimpanzees in DR Congo are threatened by deforestation and poaching. Poachers will often kill a chimpanzee family for bushmeat and capture infants for sale, deeply traumatising them. “As a caretaker, I watch them, make sure they don't fight, I watch for disease and problems.... its step by step, we create a friendly atmosphere amongst them, they have to get used to one another and learn to be a new family”.The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to some of the world’s most biodiverse locations, however, conflict, poachers and lawlessness are a constant threat to the unique species inhabiting the forests. Conservation authorities have created a safe haven for threatened chimpanzees and several other species of monkey. Orphaned by poaching, saved from the pet or bushmeat trade, rescued primates are often traumatised and medically vulnerable. (Photo by Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/EPA/EFE)
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