Rehabilitation and Release of a Troop of Chacma Baboons

VISION

The Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) strives to be an independent, pioneering force in the protection and rehabilitation of orphaned, injured and otherwise displaced wildlife, while promoting the preservation of their habitat.

CROW is committed to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of displaced wildlife and promotes action and education with regard to the protection of all natural resources.

The organisation recognises and defends the right of wild animals to freedom, and therefore rejects the notion of keeping or breeding them in captivity for the purposes of entertainment, education, medical research, product testing, hunting, or any other endeavour that violates their right to freedom.

OVERVIEW

CROW has rehabilitated and released more than 50,000 animals back into the wild since the early 1970s. Over the last couple of years, they have admitted more than 30 Chacma Baboons to their facilities. Many of these were orphaned babies.

This project aims to rehabilitate and release a troop of these baboons back into the wild within the next year. The process involves socialising the baboons by introducing them to each other over time, so that they will form relationships and bond as a functioning troop.

There are three distinct sub-species of Chacma Baboons found in different geographical areas of South Africa, and the authorities (locally Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) do not allow the species to mix. CROW is the only rehabilitation centre for baboons in its specific geographic area and is responsible for the rehabilitation and release of the sub-species found in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape. The only alternative for displaced baboons in these places is a lifetime in captivity, or euthanasia.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

• It is a well-established and respected facility.
• The centre has a strong relationship with Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal Wildlife.
• The model is based on International Good Practice Guidelines for Wildlife Reintroduction and has been adapted to suit the local context.
• The project responds to an identified need

EXPECTED LIFE CHANGE

An investment of R91,000 will help CROW to rehabilitate and release a troop of 30 Chacma Baboons. This means that:

• They will be reintroduced into the wild away from human settlements, reducing conflict between humans and baboons.
• They will be able to survive independently of human intervention and will be able to breed successfully.
• In the long term, wildlife heritage will be preserved.

NEED

Almost 90% of the animals admitted to CROW have sustained injuries due to human negligence and Chacma Baboons are no exception. They sometimes get close to communities, where they raid crops and become a nuisance. Many of these animals are killed or shot on site, often leaving orphaned baby baboons. Other baboons are taken into captivity in abusive circumstances, where they are used for display or entertainment purposes.

Some animals’ injuries are so severe that they cannot be rehabilitated. They then become permanent residents of CROW, or have to be euthanised. Time and dedication are needed to rehabilitate the baboons that can be reintroduced to their natural environment.

STRATEGY

This project will care for these baboons over the next year, preparing them for their return to the wild. Social cohesion during the troop formation process is key, as baboons are social animals who need time to get to know one another and form relationships. A staggered approach to the troop formation involves introducing different members of the troop at strategic times, beginning with babies, who are more likely to be integrated. Next, a female adult will be introduced to the nursery and will bond with the babies over a few months, during which time juvenile and sub-adults of both sexes will also be introduced.

The new troop in the making is enclosed next to the adult individuals, so that they can socialise through the fence and get to know each other. When the two groups are finally amalgamated, large males will be confined. If there is no aggression shown, they will be introduced last.

The preparation process also involves ‘cage enrichment’. This consists of food-related toys, puzzles and climbing to stimulate the animals and alleviate boredom, providing entertainment and exercise. Throughout the rehabilitation and preparation process, there is minimal human interaction and handling so that the baboons are unaccustomed to humans and able to survive independently in their natural habitat.

ACTION PLAN

Preparation

The project is currently in progress. A sufficient number and variety of Chacma Baboons have been admitted to CROW to begin troop formation, and they are currently housed in existing primate enclosures.

Implementation

• Troop formation: once a sufficient variety of males, females and juveniles have been received at the centre, the gradual troop formation process begins, with different ages and genders being introduced over time. The process is carefully monitored to ensure social cohesion.
• Identification of release site – usually privately-owned land that is used for game farms, reserves and sanctuaries.
• Submission of release permit to Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal at least six months prior to release date.
• Supplementary feeding of troop for up to three months after release.
• Troop or individual baboon recovery during the post-release monitoring phase, for those that do not settle in the wild and remain dependent on human support or begin to starve.

Monitoring

During the rehabilitation process, baboons are monitored on an ongoing basis, with limited handling. The baboons are collared prior to release and observed and tracked daily for four to five months in the wild, with data sheets completed daily to inform evaluation reports.

Feeding behaviours, where the baboons find water, where they roost for the night, how the troop bonds in the wild and whether they breed, are observed.

ORGANISATION ASSESSMENT

CROW is a well-established organisation with over 29 years of experience in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife, admitting around 5,000 animals per year. They provide an important 24-hour service with an Intensive Care Unit and incubator care.

The organisation has a clear purpose and simple strategy, with a skilled, dedicated and passionate team. CROW struggles in the areas of fundraising and, in turn staffing, which impacts their sustainability, but they are focused on building their capital fund to improve their sustainability in the future.

Purpose

CROW has a clearly-defined reason for existence, which is formally documented in their mission statement and used to inform their overall goals and objectives. They have a comprehensive understanding of the issues they address and have a good grasp of local and international approaches to their field of work, as they continuously network with experts.

Strategy

CROW’s overall strategy is encapsulated in their motto: rescue, rehabilitate and release. This frames their work as they take animals through the process with supportive facilities including an Intensive Care Unit, baby clinic and enclosures.

The animal rehabilitation and reintroduction model, or ‘blueprint’, that they use is based on International Wildlife Rehabilitation Standards and is modified to meet their specific needs. They also seek assistance and mentorship from experts and other wildlife rehabilitation centres and participate in specialist courses. Their networking and collaborations, ongoing learning and capacity to adapt through practice are particularly important as no animals are turned away. This means that an animal species they are not yet familiar with may be admitted.

CROW is also involved in public awareness and sharing their key learnings on an ad hoc basis. They recently financed and produced three DVDs on animal cruelty, pollution and deforestation and have distributed them to 138 underprivileged schools in the greater Kwa-Zulu Natal area at no charge. They also produce an e-newsletter, together with a printed version, which is distributed quarterly.

Resources

CROW has a clear understanding of the resources they need to function optimally and deliver on their social mission, though these are not formally documented. At present, they are short of two clinic staff members and could use more people on the ground as the animals, particularly in the Intensive Care Unit, need 24-hour care. Staff members can suffer from burn-out and require counselling to cope with the emotional strain of the numbers of animals that are euthanised.

There are currently no formal staff performance appraisals or job descriptions. The management team reports that staff members are hand-picked, with passion as a key ingredient, and that staff members generally do what is needed and go beyond the call of duty in caring for the animals. Staff members are trained on an ongoing basis, attending courses when they are on offer; but there are reportedly no recognised training programmes specifically focused on wildlife rehabilitation, and there is little support from government in this area.

The organisation has given attention to building up a capital fund over time and currently has financial reserves for up to three years. Despite the capital fund, the organisation is struggling to cover the extensive running costs arising from the care of the large numbers of animals admitted. Key sources of finance include interest from the capital fund, bequests and income from fundraising events.

Governance

CROW has an executive committee of eight dedicated members with extensive experience in a range of fields which add strategic value to the operations of the organisation. The organisation produces audited financial statements annually and submits reports to donors and relevant government stakeholders in accordance with their specific requirements. These are informed by their fairly extensive computerised database for recording activities and by tracking all admittances to the centre.

Sustainability

The organisation does not have regular funding sources in place and much of its funding has been generated through bequests, as a result of forms distributed when conducting rescue visits. They have implemented some successful income-generating activities through fundraising events, international volunteers and the interest they earn on their capital fund.

The organisation has been reliant on one or two key individuals for strategic direction and leadership, although they have recently appointed a new CEO and are focussing on succession planning. They need to develop their medium to long-term plans further, with detailed documented strategies in place for three to five years. The new CEO is devising plans for infrastructure development over the next five years.

The organisation’s performance is assessed by external parties. The NSPCA evaluates the welfare of the animals in CROW’s care and a conservation officer from Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal Wildlife makes regular visits to assess the centre.

RISK PROFILE

Key Strengths

• Concept: the project concept is based on a tried and tested model.
• Design: the project is modelled on international best practice standards and guidelines for rehabilitation of wildlife, which have been adapted to local contexts. The design of the project also draws on the organisation’s 29 years of experience in rescue, rehabilitation and release.
• Capability: the project team has gained extensive experience and capability through their primate rehabilitation programme for vervet monkeys, which is renowned internationally as a good practice model. They have also gained expertise in the rehabilitation and release of Chacma Baboons and draw on advice from experts to enhance their capacity on an ongoing basis.
• Control: strong monitoring systems enable the team to respond timeously to any challenges in implementation.
• Sustainability: the project will have a sustainable impact, as the objective is to reintroduce the troop to the wild, after which time the baboons will not require further support.
• External: the additional oversight is provided by Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal Wildlife.

Key Risks

• Capability: the organisation, and in turn the project, could benefit from additional human resources.
• Sustainability: there is the potential for burn-out of staff members due to limited human resources and the emotional strain involved in this type of work. This potential is mitigated by the counselling provided to staff members. Another risk does not lie in the sustainability of the project itself, but potentially the sustainability of the organisation, which may impact on the implementation of the project. It is, however, unlikely that any challenges to the sustainability of the organisation would impact on the project within the implementation period.
• External: external factors such as availability of appropriate release sites, food and climatic conditions may affect the capacity of the project to obtain a release permit and consequently delay release times. This risk is mitigated by the relatively long lead times, with the project team beginning to search for appropriate sites as long as a year in advance. The social nature of the baboons may also impact on the project as certain baboons may not integrate well and may take a disliking to the other members of the troop. These individuals may need to be removed from the troop. Certain baboons may not manage to integrate into the wild and support themselves independently of humans. This risk is mitigated by the monitoring and tracking of the troop for four to five months. The project team would be able to identify and remove any troop members that are not coping.