On November 18th, Friends of JACK received the tragic news that our dear friend and partner, Heritier Mpo, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He left behind a beautiful family, including two young children, his parents, brothers and sister as well as an amazing team at his NGO, APPACOL-PRN, and an amazing legacy.
Heritier touched the lives of many. His approach to conservation and dedication to the betterment of his community uplifted the lives of so many people around him. Through his work, he helped to save countless animals, with over 70 of those being primates who now reside at @jackprimatesanctuary.
He was a brave and determined man who would ride for days on a motorbike through the jungle; personally escorting primates through dangerous landscapes until they safely reached their final destination. Some of our most beloved rescues: Kindu, Lowe, and, of course, Mpo, would not be here today if it were not for Heritier and his team.
Words cannot accurately convey how devastated the Friends of JACK team is to lose such an amazing human. To say that his death is a blow to local human and wildlife communities would be an understatement.
To be paralyzed by that blow, however, would be a dishonor to Heritier and his legacy. With Heritier in our hearts, we are more determined than ever to continue his fight against wildlife trafficking.
To honor his memory and ensure his family’s well-being, we have started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his funeral expenses and provide for his children’s education. We invite all who are touched by Heritier’s life and mission to contribute to this cause. Your generosity will provide a measure of stability to his family during this unimaginably difficult time and help ensure that his children have the opportunities he worked so hard to create.
This GofundMe is also in full partnership with JACK Primate Sanctuary GO FUND ME: https://www.gofundme.com/…/support-heritier-mpos-legacy…
For our followers in Europe, you might prefer doing ALLOASSO: https://www.helloasso.com/…/collectes/hommage-a-un-heros