Baboons re-released into game farm after five years
Five years of hard work and rehabilitative care from Yellowood Park's Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has culminated in the successful release of 14 previously injured and orphaned baboons in a private game farm in Richmond.
The primates, which had to be released as part of a troop, were reintegrated into the wild in November. They will be supervised by Crow’s on-site monitor, who will ensure they adapt smoothly into their new environment.
Following the release, Crow appeals to the public to help repair and upgrade its baboon facility to allow for the rehabilitation of another troop. “Our main baboon enclosure needs to urgently be repaired and upgraded in order to accommodate our 14 baby chacma baboons which are currently housed in our baboon nursery and will form part of our next troop due for release in three years,” said primate manager, Mabel Watts.
The projected cost of the repair and upgrade is R130,000 which will be spent building new jungle gyms, new holding cages and replacing the electrical fence around the perimeter of the enclosure. Donations can be made into Crow’s FNB account, branch code 221-426, account number 50770230859. Donors are requested to use their names and the word baboon as a reference. All contributions of R1,000 or more will acknowledged on sign a outside the enclosure.
For more information, call Crow director, Claire Hodgkinson on 031-462-1127
031-462-1127 or email her at fundraiser@crowkzn.co.za.
