Ireland's answer to Dian Fossey is to return to the African jungle to care for young chimpanzees whose parents were killed by illegal hunting.

Dubliner Lynn Clifford (40) is back working in Ireland after another stint in South Cameroon where she had acted as protector and 'foster mother' for orphan chimps.

Although she has spent recent months earning a living in Ireland's damp and chilly climate, her heart continues to belong to the imperiled chimpanzees she loves so much.

Redundant

"I hope to get back there early in the new year where I feel I can do some good," said Lynn, who is back living in the family home in Pine Grove Road in Swords.

A qualified veterinary nurse, Lynn is saving up funds to spend another extended period in South Cameroon working with the small Pongo Songo Rehabilitation Project which rears and protects young chimps who cannot survive in the wild.

The Irishwoman first began working for the charity when she went on holiday to Africa after being made redundant from her job in Britain.

She spent two years caring for the chimps before returning home to Ireland. She returned to Africa last year and resumed her caring role for another period.

Now she is planning yet another extended period looking after the chimpanzees. Ideally, she would like to divide her time between South Cameroon and Ireland, spending the greater part of the year on animal welfare in the jungle.

There were 18 chimpanzees receiving care in the sanctuary where she worked. One of the youngest chimps she named 'Liberty.' She helped rear her and guarded her as she learned to climb trees.

"I was her mammy. It was heart-breaking to find out she ran away from the sanctuary after I left," said Lynn. "She was too young to survive on her own in the wild."

Working with chimpanzees can be eventful. When she returned to Africa last year, a big male chimp attacked and bit her. She was assured this was natural behaviour and the chimp then tried to 'comfort' her as if to say he was sorry.

Lynn has also suffered from a bad attack of malaria during which she awoke to find a priest giving her the last rites.

Following medical treatment she regained her health.

The chimps and other endangered animals are often killed for their meat by people who are suffering from hunger. People eat or sell many different wild animals to help make ends meet.

"I've got lifts in a Toyota Corolla that would have 13 people in it driving to market in the town with tortoises and snakes and with a crocodile tied up on the roof," she said.

She gave classes in schools in Douala city in which she explained her work and the need to protect wild endangered animals.

When some children were showed pictures of chimps, they replied with the word 'meat'. It is illegal to kill or capture chimpanzees but it still happens on a frequent basis.

Her work is important from a humane perspective as baby chimps are extremely traumatised when their parents are killed.

The distressed young chimps usually see hunters kill their mothers and they are helpless unless someone steps in to care for them.

Lynn said there will be no chimpanzees left in the wild by 2050 if the current rate of increase in hunting continues.

She has also helped out the local people from time to time who have been immensely friendly to her. One local pregnant woman suddenly went into labour as she emerged alone from the jungle and fell to the ground.

Local people hurried to Lynn to ask for help and Lynn did her best to help her deliver the baby as the young mother lay on the ground in the midst of driving rain. Afterwards, she helped the woman to stand and they went to a local home where the woman and baby received more help.

Welfare

"The local women are absolutely amazing. They're wonderful," she said.

She hopes to raise some funds for the charity which would be spent entirely on the welfare of the chimps in the special nursery on a jungle island sanctuary.

The public can contact Lynn at lynardc1@gmail.com and she is willing to speak to Irish schoolchildren about her work. Donations can be sent to The Pongo Songo Rehabilitation Project, bank account: Ulster Bank 00244818; sort code 985040.

- Alan O'Keeffe