Jeunes Animaux Confisqués au Katanga (J.A.C.K. – young animals confiscated in Katanga) is an independent, self funded NGO that started in Lubumbashi, DRC, in April 2006. Run by  Franck CHANTEREAU and his wife Roxane, JACK is a Refuge Centre for seized chimpanzee babies.

Today, hardly 172,000 to 300,000 chimpanzees are said to be left and an estimated  40%  of this remaining population lives in the DRC. Unfortunately, although this Central African country has ratified CITES agreements protecting Great Apes in 1976, nearly no action has been taken to protect them. Chimpanzees are still being poached, eaten and sold. This species is soon to become extinct if awareness is not advocated to stop the trade.

Therefore, the J.A.C.K.  Refuge Centre exists to facilitate wildlife confiscations by the authorities through providing a safe place for the orphans to live for the time being.

 

Who we work with

Based at the Lubumbashi Zoo, JACK doesn’t work alone. A Consortium has been created by Franck CHANTEREAU to face the problem of trade. Two Congolese institutions help J.A.C.K. :

                                                    - the Ministry of Environment,                                                  

                                                     - I.C.C.N. (Congolese National Parks) and

                                                    - I.J.Z.B.C. (Congolese of Zoological and Botanical gardens)

 The Ministry of Environment seizes the chimpanzees; these are brought to JACK’s Refuge Centre based at the Lubumbashi Zoo. JACK works with Congolese National Parks (ICCN) for the eventual reintroduction of the orphans to the wild.

Also, JACK is assisted by an independent conservation advisor, Mister Simon HICKS of Conservation Works.

In addition to this, the J.A.C.K. sanctuary has developped a close relationship with its main partners who are: