The Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education, otherwise known as CARE, was first established back in 1989 and was one of South Africa's first rehabilitation centres to exist. We are an NGO (non-governmental organisation) wildlife conservation and welfare charity, specialising in Chacma baboons. We strive to rescue and rehabilitate the baboons with the aim to release them back into their natural habitat, whilst simultaneously tackling the problems which cause the baboons to come into our care.

We are completely non-profit and so rely on the help of volunteers and donations in order to run the centre and continue helping the baboons.

We are fortunate enough to have had an amazing sponsor to fund the building of a brand-new semiwild enclosure - a safe and secure area of fenced natural habitat here in the Greater Kruger area, purposely built to help the baboons get ready for their release back into the wild.

This beautiful 10,000 square meter enclosure (approximately a hectare!) at our second site is very nearly ready for the baboons to inhabit, but we are in need of help with the final few steps to make sure it is a perfect environment for the animals.

We have 3 steps left to complete; first is preparing for the arrival of the baboons, second is ensuring we will always have a stable water supply, and lastly will be moving the baboons!

As simple as it may seem, moving a troop of 21 baboons is a difficult and expensive job, and it requires a lot of time and hard work. That’s why we urgently need your help with funding the following:

Preparing for their arrival

-Permit to move the troop - R595 / £25 but kindly sponsored already!

-Cleaning tools; including brooms, hose pipes, buckets, wheelie bins, wheelbarrows, scrub brushes etc (baboons can be very messy!) - totalling approximately R9000 / £376

-Screening around the enclosure - TBC

-Backup solar powered battery for the electric fence - R3000 / £124

Providing a stable water supply

-Jojo water tank- R14,200 / £594 (not including the stand or installation fees!)

-Solar powered borehole system - R3000 / £125 (not including installation fees!)

Moving the baboons

-Vet call out fee (to make sure all of our baboons get a full health check before they move house!) - TBC

-Tetanus and Vitamin B12 booster vaccines -R600 / £25

-TB tests - TBC

-Preventative dewormer treatment - R250 / £11

-Parasitology testing - TBC

-Contraceptives for the mature females - R15,600 / £652

-Sedatives (to ensure they all have the opportunity for a full health check, followed by a smooth, stress-free journey to the semi wild enclosure) - R1700 / £71

-Darts and gas canisters - R3900 / £163

-Transport cages - kindly sponsored already!

-Vehicles usage and fuel - TBC

-Staff to transport - TBC

As you can see, each of these steps is very costly, which is why any donations, no matter how small, will be a great help and a huge step in the best direction for the baboons.

The baboon troop that has been chosen to move to the semiwild is one of our largest troops at C.A.R.E., our Cheeky Chumbles Troop, which includes our most recent orphaned baby, Boon. He was rescued at almost 8 weeks old and brought to the safety of C.A.R.E. in March this year. After receiving expert care from our trained caregivers, he is now bonded with new baboon foster mother Tasha and is happily living amongst the other baboons. This troop also includes Boon's new 'brother' and best friend Xaden, who was rescued in November 2024 - you may remember him as the ‘box baby’! Boon and Xaden are becoming very confident and are always playing together and causing mischief, so will really benefit from living in the semiwild enclosure where they can learn how to be wild baboons and really get the second chance they deserve.

Cheeky Chumbles also includes Eleanor, who you may remember from back in 2016. Eleanor was unfortunately a victim of a road traffic collision where she lost her mother and suffered extensive, life threatening injuries to her body and head, including a fractured skull and injuries to her brain. Thankfully, she was rescued and brought here to CARE to recover from her injuries and trauma, where she had to wear a specially designed helmet to protect her delicate little head.

For a long time it was touch and go, but with expert care and lots of TLC, Eleanor’s story has a happy ending! Since joining the Cheeky Chumbles Troop, she has been thriving and really making the most of her second chance at life. She is one of the most enthusiastic and playful baboons, and she was first in line to meet both of her new baby brothers when they first arrived in the troop. Xaden and Boon both loved Eleanor’s company and loving, playful energy right from day 1, so we cannot wait to see how much they will enjoy playing together and exploring their new home in the semi wild enclosure!

As well as Eleanor, Tasha, Boon and Xaden, the rest of the troop moving to the semiwild will be males Jack, Basil, Luca, Calvin, and Keys, and females Bianca, Liberty, Zanlari, Kim, Marla, Willa, Jordan, Cippi, Brooklyn, Evie, Mynah, and Bounty!

Check out our socials to find out more about these individuals and their backstories too.

We want to thank you again for any and every donation - we really do appreciate every bit of help we can get to ensure these baboons get the new enclosure they truly deserve to help them take another step towards being released back into the wild!