My Story

Maisko

Care givers say, I’m always late most especially for the evening feeding but unlike other Chimpanzees, I tend to fix more tasks in my day.

Usually I’m out trying to set traps for monitor lizards or birds or out rightly practicing swinging from one tree to another until I feel confident enough with my practice.

I know this makes me bad at estimating the returning time but when I’m back in the holding facility, I’m more optimistic to go back in the forest the next day than any other Chimpanzee because I always want to see what’s in my traps or to simply show off my new swinging skills to the other Chimpanzees.

My name is Maisko and if you didn’t know, I am the most optimistic Chimpanzee at Ngamba Island. I live first thing in the morning for the forest and I am always the last one to come back home usually I take 30 minutes or more, it just depends on what I am working on. That’s how much the forest inspires me.

Sadly in 1991 this opportunity was stripped away from me when I was illegally sent to Russia to participate in a Circus. I was reduced to a mere pet that was used to entertain tourists. Some of my friends like Sunday were sterilized. Megan, Kidogo and I were kept on leashes and slept in small cages for the night, I hated them.

 That’s why when I’m at Ngamba Island I want to soak in all the beauty of the forest and my surroundings. Especially the Chimp fights which I tend to disperse by beating whoever I find around the commotion without asking who was fighting and who was not. I’m some sort of the anti riot police of Ngamba Island, most Chimps call me that.

But besides that, it’s so good living around people of your own kind, because you tend to understand each other even in conflict.

I’m 32 years old now and it’s interesting to know that I have grown up to this age all at Ngamba Island. I’ve been here since 1998 and I’m one of the high ranking males at the Island. When you visit the Island remember to ask about Maisko, the great optimist of Ngamba Island, you’ll surely see me.

1000 Pant Hoots

Maisko