And we're off...

For anyone who has ever done research, you know that there are more stories than you can tell. And for the rest of your life, little snippets of those experiences may come back to you, whether for an article you are writing, a story you are telling, or just an unheeded memory dislodged by a passing smell.

For anyone who has never done research, you didn't know till now just what you were missing. There is more to it than the simple collection of data, the plugging in of results, and the likely hours of sitting their waiting for something to happen.

This blog is for you, all of you. It will bring back those memories for those who share them, and hopefully inspire in others the need to create some of their own. We invite you all to follow along as we begin our quest to share our research experiences with the rest of the world.

'We', are the Chimfunshi Resesarch and Education Center (RaEC), based at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia. Home to Africa's largest Chimpanzee Sanctuary, RaEC is currently working to:

• Improve captive conditions for rehabilitated and rescued chimpanzees
• Build a worldwide community
• Promote a worldwide initiative for Cooperation, Education and Conservation
• Face the environmental challenges of today head on

We will be posting first-hand accounts from the visiting researchers, field assistants, and volunteers describing their research experiences at Africa's largest Chimpanzee sanctuary. Not only will you be learning about the daily "grind" of research, but of daily life at the sanctuary and hopefully you will also catch a glimpse into the world of research and conservation from varying international viewpoints. Follow along as questions from the forefront of conservation are hashed out and solutions, or further inquiries, are discovered and reacted to in real time.

We hope you enjoy your journey through the world of Chimfunshi Research, and hopefully you will learn something along the way. Or at the very least, enjoy the ride.