Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center (Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro, or CRPL) was created in 2002 by two Congolese Institutions: Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and Centre de Recherché en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN). Poaching increased drastically during the Second Congolese War (1998-2004), and it was decided to create a safe place for orphaned primates to recover both physically and physiologically from their ordeals.
Management of a long-term captive care facility, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and conservation education, requires the resources (financial and technical) of multiple partners. For this reason, the CRPL welcomed collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations to assist with the management and development of the project. In 2006, Coopera, a Spanish NGO arrived to provide the needed technical and management support. In 2016, the Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance (ICWCA) became our core partner, and, in that same year, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) officially joined the team in taking charge of the veterinary department.
CRPL is an important conservation tool for primates in the DRC. We are currently looking after 85 chimpanzees and 105 monkeys of 11 different species, all of them victims of the pet trade and/or poaching. Without centres like ours no confiscation of captive animals would be possible, which also makes us essential for law enforcement.
Strategically situated only 4 km away from Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), defined by the IUCN as the world’s 3rd most important site for the conservation of the Eastern Chimpanzee; makes Lwiro the ideal location for chimpanzee rehabilitation, local conservation education, and outreach.
Our chimpanzees and monkeys have become ambassadors for their wild cousins. Our education and sensitization program reaches more than 3500 people every year. CRPL is also involve in the following activities:
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Rescue, rehabilitation, and planned reintroduction of confiscated wildlife
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Conservation and environmental education
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Community development, health, and sanitation projects
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Research programs and activities
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Local and international tourism
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Collaboration with local and international organizations
CRPL is an accredited sanctuary by Pan Africans Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and Global Federation of Animals Sanctuaries (GFAS).
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