Did you know that we are members of the ”save the drill” association? The aim of the association is to promote and preserve the endangered drills in their natural environment. The association supports both the drills and the nature and environment they live in.

An important part of the work to save the drills is carried out by the organisation Pandrillus, which operates in Nigeria on the so-called drill ranch. On the ranch in Nigeria, the organisation takes care of more than 600 drills that make their home in the area around the ranch. Pandrillus staff at the ranch have dedicated the last 30 years of their lives to standing up for the drills and actively working to protect one of Nigeria's most beautiful places, the place that is also home to the drills. After a series of terrible events, the Drill Ranch and Pandrillus need all the help they can get to continue the work of saving the Drill. Read on below to find out more.

We have previously told you about the work being done at the ”drill ranch” in Nigeria to save the drills from extinction. In 2017, the ranch was hit by two severe storms that left the ranch in ruins. With the help of donations, including from us at Parken Zoo, the ranch could be rebuilt and the work of helping the drills on site in Nigeria could continue.

Once again, we have received terrible news from the Drill Ranch. At the end of December 2019, the ranch was raided. The local police were immediately called in and two suspects were arrested. During a police transport to a nearby police station, a serious traffic accident occurred, killing one of the suspects and the driver. All witnesses and 6 police officers are hospitalised following the road accident.

A few days later, the ranch was attacked by a large gang of men who literally smashed the ranch to pieces, assaulting and beating the ranch staff who were chained and severely injured during the attack.

The ranch has since been guarded day and night by armed police officers, but the staff live in constant fear of what will happen next.

Staff are struggling to patch up the ranch piece by piece. But as you can imagine, there is a great need for both labour and financial donations. Parken Zoo continues to support the ”save the drill” organisation financially. If you would also like to help, or learn more about the work to save the drills, please visit save-the-drill.org

Today, the drill is classified as critically endangered in the wild and it is one of the species included in the EAZA conservation breeding project. Within the project in the European zoos, there are currently 44 males and 56 females. In the picture you see the female Hakuna Matata who lives with us here at Parken Zoo. Parken Zoo participates in the European breeding programme for the conservation of the drill.