Release into a Semi-Wild
Donation protected
We're fundraising to build Karien and Diana's troop a semi-wild enclosure! Let's get them out of a cage and into the trees!
Karien and Diana's troop has been formed with orphan baboons which came to C.A.R.E. scared, often abused and traumatized, they've been given a second chance of life at C.A.R.E.! They've been given a baboon family, their health and now we would like to give them back a life in the trees, in the open air! They're not yet ready for release as they're still very immature, but a semi-wild is the next best thing for freedom.... and safer too!
Above: Chips an orphan when she was still in the nursery enjoying a foraging walk at the river. She adored exploring and we want to give her the opportunity to do it again!
Below: Kala! This beautiful baboon came in as an ex-pet and would LOVE to climb trees again helping her on the road to real FREEDOM.
Since 2014 C.A.R.E. has built two semi-wild enclosures thanks to fundraising initiatives like this one and the baboons within them are enjoying the feeling of 'freedom'. This is the best enclosure we can give these well deserving baboons whilst in captivity awaiting release.
Above: Sprout and Chips from KD troop when they first came to C.A.R.E.
In addition, not only will this troop benefit but it will have a ripple-effect throughout the centre;
“When you drop a pebble into a pond, ripples spread out, changing all the water in the pool. The ripples hit the shore and rebound, bumping into one another, breaking each other apart. In some small way, the pond is never the same again.”
― Neal Shusterman"
KDs old enclosure can be rennovated and provide home for the smaller Kiki troop, Kiki's old enclosure can be rennovated and then combined with Simons old enclosure (who have a semi-wild now) giving Stew's troop a new home in more than double their present enclosure size! This will then allow for Coco's troop to get Stew's old enclosure and double the space! So why don't you throw a few coins in and watch the ripples spread far and wide throughout C.A.R.E.
Above: Mia an ex-pet in KD troop
The Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (C.A.R.E) is a not-for-profit rescue, rehabilitation, and release center for orphaned Chacma baboons. It is located in Phalaborwa, South Africa inside the safety of a nature reserve. The baboons that find their way to C.A.R.E are orphaned, often because of humans killing their mothers, be that by hunting, poisoning, trapping, or killing the mother to sell the baby into the pet trade. Baboons are often thought of as “vermin” in South Africa and unfortunately many times they are killed without a second thought. C.A.R.E takes in these orphans with the goal to rehabilitate them so that eventually they can be returned to the wild as free baboons. However, this is a long process, as baboons are complex animals. These orphans will live in captivity for anywhere from six to eight years before being ready for release (Guice, 2014).
What is a semi-wild?
A semi-wild enclosure is an electric-fenced in area, with open skies. It is built within the native habitat of the chacma baboons with native vegetation which would normally make up part of their natural diet. The semi-wild enclosure replicates what life would be like in the wild and encourages the baboon’s natural behaviours. Two semi-wild enclosure's have already been built, one is fully finished and a troop has been released into it, the second (thanks to a successful GoFundMe last year is almost complete). This has provided C.A.R.E with an opportunity to see first-hand how beneficial a semi-wild enclosure is. Both enclosures were built strictly with donations from caring people wanting to make a difference. The semi-wilds are huge and the troop can disappear into the bush forgaging, playing, resting, grooming and staring into blue skies.
Above: Yana from Simon's troop enjoying the trees.
Why is semi-wild enclosure better?
A larger space for animals is always better. Baboons live in hierarchical troops, and therefore low ranking baboons may have a hard time in a small space; they are often the target to be attacked and chased. A semi-wild enclosure gives these low ranking baboons a chance to often avoid such confrontations due to the increased amount of space. This also aids in lowering stress levels- therefore increasing the baboon’s health and overall wellbeing. These enclosures also enhance the baboons’ natural behaviours, such as foraging, a skill needed to survive in the wild (Guice, 2014). This is something the baboons in the smaller cages can do, but not in such a diverse way. Due to the natural growing vegetation and increased space, these enclosures have proven to be more hygienic, provide better nutrition, and ultimately is the next best thing to being actually free.
Above: Mr Darcy from Simon's troop eating and playing in the trees.
How many baboons would benefit from this?
By building just one more semi-wild over 60 baboons would benefit from an increased amount of space! It truly will have a ripple effect throughout the centre. The centre is in a stale-mate situation with enclosures until another is built, with a new semi-wild KD's old enclosure is then free for development.
* KD is the name of the troop that would be moved into the semi-wild enclosure (Karien and Diana's troop). This troop has 25 baboon members, 21 juveniles and 4 older adults. Their current enclosure is fast becoming outgrown! Because they have a larger troop a semi-wild enclosure would greatly benefit all of the members.
* Kiki’s troop, a second group of baboons that would be helped, currently has 15 members, 7 young males, 7 females and one adult male. This troop would be moved into KD’s old enclosure. Kiki’s current enclosure is becoming way too small for the troop, and it is essential that they move as soon as possible.
* Stew’s troop is another that would benefit from this, with 12 members, all aged around 11-12 years old. They currently are housed in an enclosure that is 95.1m^2. However, this troop includes 4 adult males that currently have to be housed in single enclosures next to the troop due to lack of space. This troop needs more females integrated before they can be released - to ensure that they have the greatest chance of survival and reproduction. C.A.R.E. does not allow for breeding, so this will be done through bonding any incoming orphan babies to the adult females in the troop.
Unfortunately, no babies can be added to their troop until they move to an enclosure with more space. They would move into Simon (the troop that received the last semi-wild enclosure) and Kiki’s old enclosures, giving them so much more space! By moving them into a larger enclosure, the adult males would finally be able to join their troop and live with them.
* Finally, Coco’s troop, with 11 members would get their current enclosure expanded to include Stew’s old enclosure. This would give Coco's troop more than double the space and two sides to allow for easier cleaning and maintenance! Like Stew’s troop, Coco’s troop needs more females before being released, so increasing their space will speed up their release!
Above: KD in their existing enclosure... let's get them out of a cage and into the trees!
These baboons are all at C.A.R.E because they have lost their mothers, most of whom had been killed in front of them. They grew up without their biological mother, a bond that we all know to be very special and incredibly strong. They have all experienced tragedy, loss, and sadness, yet they have all persevered. Many of them still have a long road of rehabilitation ahead of them and deserve to live it in the most natural way possible.
Above: Orphans Sunny and Chips from KD troop when they first got settled in at C.A.R.E.
Please help make this possible for these amazing animals!!
Cast those coins and make those ripples! With your help, anything is possible!
Above: Orphan Karien when she first arrived at C.A.R.E. Karien was named after Karien Heilberg, a talented artist that died in 2011. Karien used to support C.A.R.E. though her beautiful sketches of baboons.
References:
Guice, Edythe. "Simon Semi-Wild Project." Go Fund Me. 6 November 2014. Web. 18 October 2015. https://www.gofundme.com/simonsemiwild
Karien and Diana's troop has been formed with orphan baboons which came to C.A.R.E. scared, often abused and traumatized, they've been given a second chance of life at C.A.R.E.! They've been given a baboon family, their health and now we would like to give them back a life in the trees, in the open air! They're not yet ready for release as they're still very immature, but a semi-wild is the next best thing for freedom.... and safer too!
Above: Chips an orphan when she was still in the nursery enjoying a foraging walk at the river. She adored exploring and we want to give her the opportunity to do it again!
Below: Kala! This beautiful baboon came in as an ex-pet and would LOVE to climb trees again helping her on the road to real FREEDOM.
Since 2014 C.A.R.E. has built two semi-wild enclosures thanks to fundraising initiatives like this one and the baboons within them are enjoying the feeling of 'freedom'. This is the best enclosure we can give these well deserving baboons whilst in captivity awaiting release.
Above: Sprout and Chips from KD troop when they first came to C.A.R.E.In addition, not only will this troop benefit but it will have a ripple-effect throughout the centre;
“When you drop a pebble into a pond, ripples spread out, changing all the water in the pool. The ripples hit the shore and rebound, bumping into one another, breaking each other apart. In some small way, the pond is never the same again.”
― Neal Shusterman"
KDs old enclosure can be rennovated and provide home for the smaller Kiki troop, Kiki's old enclosure can be rennovated and then combined with Simons old enclosure (who have a semi-wild now) giving Stew's troop a new home in more than double their present enclosure size! This will then allow for Coco's troop to get Stew's old enclosure and double the space! So why don't you throw a few coins in and watch the ripples spread far and wide throughout C.A.R.E.
Above: Mia an ex-pet in KD troopThe Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (C.A.R.E) is a not-for-profit rescue, rehabilitation, and release center for orphaned Chacma baboons. It is located in Phalaborwa, South Africa inside the safety of a nature reserve. The baboons that find their way to C.A.R.E are orphaned, often because of humans killing their mothers, be that by hunting, poisoning, trapping, or killing the mother to sell the baby into the pet trade. Baboons are often thought of as “vermin” in South Africa and unfortunately many times they are killed without a second thought. C.A.R.E takes in these orphans with the goal to rehabilitate them so that eventually they can be returned to the wild as free baboons. However, this is a long process, as baboons are complex animals. These orphans will live in captivity for anywhere from six to eight years before being ready for release (Guice, 2014).
What is a semi-wild?
A semi-wild enclosure is an electric-fenced in area, with open skies. It is built within the native habitat of the chacma baboons with native vegetation which would normally make up part of their natural diet. The semi-wild enclosure replicates what life would be like in the wild and encourages the baboon’s natural behaviours. Two semi-wild enclosure's have already been built, one is fully finished and a troop has been released into it, the second (thanks to a successful GoFundMe last year is almost complete). This has provided C.A.R.E with an opportunity to see first-hand how beneficial a semi-wild enclosure is. Both enclosures were built strictly with donations from caring people wanting to make a difference. The semi-wilds are huge and the troop can disappear into the bush forgaging, playing, resting, grooming and staring into blue skies.
Above: Yana from Simon's troop enjoying the trees.
Why is semi-wild enclosure better?
A larger space for animals is always better. Baboons live in hierarchical troops, and therefore low ranking baboons may have a hard time in a small space; they are often the target to be attacked and chased. A semi-wild enclosure gives these low ranking baboons a chance to often avoid such confrontations due to the increased amount of space. This also aids in lowering stress levels- therefore increasing the baboon’s health and overall wellbeing. These enclosures also enhance the baboons’ natural behaviours, such as foraging, a skill needed to survive in the wild (Guice, 2014). This is something the baboons in the smaller cages can do, but not in such a diverse way. Due to the natural growing vegetation and increased space, these enclosures have proven to be more hygienic, provide better nutrition, and ultimately is the next best thing to being actually free.
Above: Mr Darcy from Simon's troop eating and playing in the trees.How many baboons would benefit from this?
By building just one more semi-wild over 60 baboons would benefit from an increased amount of space! It truly will have a ripple effect throughout the centre. The centre is in a stale-mate situation with enclosures until another is built, with a new semi-wild KD's old enclosure is then free for development.
* KD is the name of the troop that would be moved into the semi-wild enclosure (Karien and Diana's troop). This troop has 25 baboon members, 21 juveniles and 4 older adults. Their current enclosure is fast becoming outgrown! Because they have a larger troop a semi-wild enclosure would greatly benefit all of the members.
* Kiki’s troop, a second group of baboons that would be helped, currently has 15 members, 7 young males, 7 females and one adult male. This troop would be moved into KD’s old enclosure. Kiki’s current enclosure is becoming way too small for the troop, and it is essential that they move as soon as possible.
* Stew’s troop is another that would benefit from this, with 12 members, all aged around 11-12 years old. They currently are housed in an enclosure that is 95.1m^2. However, this troop includes 4 adult males that currently have to be housed in single enclosures next to the troop due to lack of space. This troop needs more females integrated before they can be released - to ensure that they have the greatest chance of survival and reproduction. C.A.R.E. does not allow for breeding, so this will be done through bonding any incoming orphan babies to the adult females in the troop.
Unfortunately, no babies can be added to their troop until they move to an enclosure with more space. They would move into Simon (the troop that received the last semi-wild enclosure) and Kiki’s old enclosures, giving them so much more space! By moving them into a larger enclosure, the adult males would finally be able to join their troop and live with them.
* Finally, Coco’s troop, with 11 members would get their current enclosure expanded to include Stew’s old enclosure. This would give Coco's troop more than double the space and two sides to allow for easier cleaning and maintenance! Like Stew’s troop, Coco’s troop needs more females before being released, so increasing their space will speed up their release!
Above: KD in their existing enclosure... let's get them out of a cage and into the trees!These baboons are all at C.A.R.E because they have lost their mothers, most of whom had been killed in front of them. They grew up without their biological mother, a bond that we all know to be very special and incredibly strong. They have all experienced tragedy, loss, and sadness, yet they have all persevered. Many of them still have a long road of rehabilitation ahead of them and deserve to live it in the most natural way possible.
Above: Orphans Sunny and Chips from KD troop when they first got settled in at C.A.R.E.
Please help make this possible for these amazing animals!!
Cast those coins and make those ripples! With your help, anything is possible!
Above: Orphan Karien when she first arrived at C.A.R.E. Karien was named after Karien Heilberg, a talented artist that died in 2011. Karien used to support C.A.R.E. though her beautiful sketches of baboons.
References:
Guice, Edythe. "Simon Semi-Wild Project." Go Fund Me. 6 November 2014. Web. 18 October 2015. https://www.gofundme.com/simonsemiwild
Organizer
Stephen Munro
Organizer
