Returning Rescued Primates Back to the Wild
Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project, Zambia
- Primates and other wildlife killed for the bush meat trade
The Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project in Zambia has for several years now provided a safe haven for vervet monkeys and yellow baboons that have been orphaned or injured by the bush meat trade, the illegal pet trade and through road and snare accidents. The primates are confiscated by project staff and volunteers, including dedicated Ndola-based Honorary Wildlife Police Officer Bettina Hickman, the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and concerned members of the general public. Many of these primates have suffered immense cruelty at the hands of humans and are received in terrible condition. The project ensures, however, that care is provided for each and every rescued animal, housing them initially for a period of intensive rehabilitation at the Munda Wanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Lusaka. Staff at Munda Wanga provide life long care for those primates who because of their injuries cannot be released back to the wild. The others are nursed back to health by project staff, co-ordinated into social groups ready for release, and provided with pre-release training in predator avoidance survival skills.
A key aspect of this sanctuary care is veterinary support. Funding from Born Free USA is allowing a regular visit by a qualified wildlife vet to be made to the sanctuary for a full day once every 6 weeks. The vet, along with carrying out routine health monitoring checks for all primates in the sanctuary’s care, conducts training to upskill the keeping staff on nutritional matters, general husbandry, hygiene, handling etc. The vet also screens all incoming animals during their quarantine period and performs health checks on all primates prior to their release back into the wild to ensure they will not be putting wild primates at risk.
- Yellow baboon at the release site being monitored by Project Field Co-ordinator Zoe Lapthorne and a ZAWA scout
Thereafter, for those where a life in the wild is deemed possible, these are released as part of annual ‘soft’ release programmes into Zambia’s Lunga Luswishi Game Management Area to live the rest of their lives in the wild. Since the release project started in 2002, 40 rescued yellow baboons and 80 vervet monkeys have been released back to the wild. From a research camp deep in the bush, project field staff, lead by English volunteer Zoe Lapthorne and Lusaka-born Cosmos Mumba, track the released primates on a daily basis 6 months post-release to monitor their successful re-introduction back into the wild. Additionally, in conjunction with ZAWA’s Lunga and Kalishusi Commands, the project conducts regular anti-poaching patrols to keep the area safe for both the released primates and other wildlife resident in the area. To date these anti-poaching patrols have led to 142 arrests and the confiscation of 110 guns, 311 bikes and over 1500 snares, proving that small projects such as this can make a huge contribution to wildlife conservation. The majority of released primates have integrated extremely well back into the wild and are now foraging and fending for themselves living a truly free life.
- Project Scientific Advisor Dr. Cheryl Mvula fitting a yellow baboon with a radio collar.
The project is currently working hard preparing 31 vervet monkeys for release in July 2007. Dr Cheryl Mvula, Born Free volunteer and Scientific Advisor to the project, said, “The rescued vervets at Munda Wanga are currently undergoing training on how to recognise and avoid their main predators in the wild – birds of prey and snakes. In the case of snakes this has involved building mock termite mounds, which in the wild are often used by primates as feeding stations and lookout points, and inserting ‘mildly electrified’ wooden snakes into holes within the mound. They soon learn that snakes are not to be played with!’
The release project and the anti-poaching patrol work are funded primarily by the Born Free Foundation. Born Free also contributes towards the costs of health screening and health provision of the primates whilst being rehabilitated back to health at Munda Wanga.
Local sponsors include BWANA MKUBWA MINING COMPANY in Ndola whose invaluable support includes providing the project with its life-blood of fuel and covering vehicle servicing and maintenance costs without which the project could not undertake its primate rescue, research and anti-poaching work, SHOPRITE in Kitwe who supply the field with food supplies each month and ATTIE’S CLINIC for all the tireless work they undertake in maintaining the project’s vehicle, which was provided with a grant thanks to the Animal Defence Trust.
If you would like to offer the project support in the form of donations, ‘in-kind’ services or to get involved as a volunteer please CONTACT the project’s Scientific Advisor: cdmvula@aol.com or Chris Wright on chrisw@bornfree.org.uk
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