My Story

Ndyakira (I will survive)

I was named after a very great man, even my Chimp body shudders every time they call me Ndyakira. I feel like an Environmental  journalist of sorts after being told what the man who gave me my name did for Sunday, Maisko, Megan and Kidogo all of whom are part of my family at Ngamba Island.

It was a noble cause and a name worthy to be owned by any Chimpanzee. Anyway this is how I happened to get my name. You see I originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo but was confiscated in Kampala and taken to Ngamba on 20^th May 2002 where I was named Ndyakira on arrival, after an Environmental Journalist who uncovered the story of the four Chimpanzees that were illegally taken to participate in a circus in Russia.

This Journalist helped Sunday, Maisko, Megan and Kidogo come back home after he exposed the decay that was in the place where we were all supposed to find refuge— the Uganda Zoo now Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

So whenever you call me Ndyakira, deep down I know I will survive because that is the meaning of my name in Ruturo and that’s just what I’ve been doing since 2002. I’m 17 years old now and my rank has highly gone up ever since I was allowed to spend the day with young chimpanzees in the enclosure.

It’s some sort of Chimpanzee privilege, whoever spends time with the infants gets to be respected by the others. Anyway I’ve lived a good life at the Island and hoping to survive beyond life’s own limitations and may be just may be one day I’ll get to meet the man who gave me my name.

If you know who he is and where he is, tell him Ndyakira, his sister is waiting to see him at Ngamba Island.

1000 Pant Hoots

Ndyakira