New alliance in Zambia
03 August 2023
NEW ALLIANCE IN ZAMBIA
Zambia Primate Project’s new relationship with Game Rangers International is fantastic news for monkey rescue. Our Rescue & Care Officer, Dr Andrea Donaldson, reports.
Fantastic news from Zambia. Born Free is thrilled to announce that our long-term Zambia Primate Project colleagues – who we have supported for over 20 years – have joined together with conservation organisation Game Rangers International. Zambia Primate Project is devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation, release and protection of vervet monkeys and baboons who are victims of the illegal wildlife trade or injured due to human intervention.
Andrea Donaldson
Born Free, alongside a network of experts, all agree that – like all wild animals – monkeys and other primates* are completely ill-suited for private ownership. Each species has complex social, physical, behavioural and environmental needs that are not possible to meet in a captive environment. Monkeys, like all primates, have a well-developed capacity to feel pain, suffering and distress.
Many of the projects Born Free supports are in ‘habitat countries’ where primates naturally live in the wild. We work with local organisations, communities and government bodies to prevent wildlife trade at its source. One such project is Zambia Primate Project (ZPP), run by the wonderful Cosmas Mumba – a real wildlife hero.
ZPP was originally set up in 2009 as a Born Free project operating in Kafue National Park in western Zambia. Its mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild orphaned and injured vervet monkeys and baboons who are victims of the illegal wildlife trade, or injured due to human intervention.
Over time and with support, ZPP has evolved into a wholly Zambian-owned and registered not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, with Born Free continuing to provide valuable technical input and expertise. The project has become one of the world’s most successful primate rescue projects and has successfully given over 750 monkeys and baboons a second chance of freedom in the wild.
“Today, we are delighted to announce that ZPP has joined the Zambian conservation organisation Game Rangers International (GRI) as one of their Wildlife Rescue Programmes.”
Today, we are delighted to announce that ZPP has joined the Zambian conservation organisation Game Rangers International (GRI) as one of their Wildlife Rescue Programmes.
The mission and values of ZPP align perfectly with GRI’s Wildlife Rescue Programme – rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wild animals injured or displaced by human activity. GRI’s holistic approach to wildlife conservation aims to help all wildlife and the communities living alongside wildlife to coexist and, in the ideal, actually benefit one another.
We wish the new partnership well and would like to take this opportunity to thank the other long-standing Primary Partners of ZPP, Olsen Animal Trust and Humane Society International Australia, who have supported this project alongside Born Free to help them flourish over the years and who have encouraged this new incorporation with GRI.
*A group of mammals which includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and us!
Images © GRI
