This month marks the two-year anniversary of Mpo’s incredible journey across the DRC. Along with 22 other primates of various monkey species who were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, Mpo made his way from Lodja to Karushe on the back of motorbikes. This particular portion of the trip was originally supposed to be made by plane, however, technical problems with the plane forced JACK Primate Sanctuary and their partners to change plans.

Faced with the urgency of over 20 primates waiting to be transferred to JACK for medical care, the sanctuary and their partners thought it would be best to take the road. Private planes are expensive and hard to come by, and the team was not willing to stand by and wait while the primates continued to suffer. Unfortunately, this new plane paved their pathway with danger. Heroically, Heritier Mpo, the founder of APPACOL-PRN was up for the challenge. For two days, Heritier Mpo and his team rode through the jungle facing rough road conditions and the threat of armed militias, bandits, and roadblocks.

Thanks to the astonishing bravery and unwavering commitment to Heritier Mpo and his team, the primates made it to Karushe unscathed, where they were able to board a plane to Lubumbashi, the home of JACK Primate Sanctuary. Once they arrived in Lubumbashi, all of the vulnerable primates were kindly welcomed into the home of J.A.C.K.’s Founders, Franck and Roxane—at the time they did not have the space at the sanctuary to accommodate so many orphans at once.

As soon as the rescued primates arrived at Franck and Roxane’s home, they received health checks. Dr. Calvin treated infections, injuries, ticks, fleas, and dehydration. Mpo the chimpanzee, estimated to be two years old at the time, was very weak and underweight. He had suffered injuries to his face and struggled to use one of his back legs.

Eventually, with the help of their care team, the 23 rescued primates healed. They moved out of quarantine and into groups of their own, where they remain today.

During this particular rescue mission, Heritier Mpo, APPACOL-PRN, and the rest of the sanctuary’s partners rescued:

1 chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi)

2 Golden-bellied Mangabeys (Cercocebus chrysogaster chrysogaster)

2 Agile Mangabeys (Cercocebus agilis agilis)

2 Black-crested Mangabeys (Lophocebus aterrimus aterrimus)

1 Grey-cheeked Mangabey (Lophocebus albigena johnstoni)

1 blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis ehymansi)

6 red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius katangae)

5 other red-tailed monkeys of another subspecies (Cercopithecus ascanius Schmidti)

1 Swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis nigroviridis)

1 Patas / Red monkey (Erythrocebus patas)

1 Denti monkey (Cercopithecus denti)

–all of which were victims of the illegal wildlife trade. Without the collaborative efforts of JACK Primate Sanctuary and their partners, these 23 precious lives would have been lost.

Heritier Mpo dedicated his life to wildlife conservation. When we reflect on  all of the rescue missions he played a part in, we cannot help but be grateful to have known him. His legacy lives on through each and every individual life he saved that day two years ago. 

Today, Mpo and the rest of the group are thriving at the sanctuary. Mpo has transitioned out of a human-surrogate’s care and is now in the loving hands of Maika—an adult chimpanzee who was also a victim of the illegal wildlife trade.