Jewel was carried around in a bag the last three days of her life. She was being sold illegally in a market as a "pet" (her mother had been killed by a poacher for bushmeat) where she was then confiscated from the market by a corrupt Ministry official. This man subsequently took her from one place to another, hoping to sell her to make his own profit. Realizing finally that no one would buy a dying baby chimpanzee, he brought her to Sanaga-Yong, where she died the next morning. She was malnourished and had a severe infection around her waist, where she had been tied by a rope that she eventually grew into.

It is important to note here that ape meat is usually not a food source for rural people of central Africa (it may have been at one time, but there simply aren't enough apes left today to be a staple any longer). On the contrary, chimps, bonobos, and gorillas are considered delicacies, out of reach for all but the wealthiest people. The practice of hunting, poaching, selling, buying, eating, or even keeping Africa great apes is punishable by law in Cameroon. Learn more about these rescued chimpanzees here.