Matthew Baboons Troop
Matthew arrived at “The Manger” on June 14th 2000, a tiny pink-faced orphaned baboon found clinging to the dead body of his mother who had just been shot on a neighbouring farm. Nola and Peter had no idea how to care for an infant baboon, but young Matthew captured their hearts, and they soon learned.
More was to happen --- Beth Baboon, a 7 month orphaned baby, arrived several days after Matthew, which was great for the two of them – and they became firm friends. But baboons are wild animals, not pets, and may not be kept by people as such, so the arrival of these two young baboons set in motion negotiations between the Frazer’s and W Cape Nature Conservation, to establish a rehabilitation centre for the re-introduction of orphaned, injured, confiscated and traumatised wild animals back into their natural environment once they had healed. This process, together with the building of suitable enclosures, was quite a task, and approximately a year later Cape CROW was established --- and then did the animals arrive! Small mammals, like bat-eared foxes, jackals, porcupines, genets, caracals, birds- owls, barn owls, cranes, other raptors, otters, and then the baboons.
Young Matthew had a playful childhood with his friend Beth, running, climbing trees, turning stones, and the two of them had fun in the water in their enclosure, swinging on their ropes and tyres. They fed well, initially bottle fed on goat’s milk, then later seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts, raisins, maize porridge, and their firm favourite, bananas.
Then came Matthew’s next friend --- Joshua Baboon, very ill indeed --- his story will be found under his troop, but here it must be mentioned that, with much care and treatment, he did recover, and he introduced “baboon whispering”, or animal communication or inter-species communication to “The Manger”. This is telepathic communication between humans and animals and all sentient beings, so that we can all honour, respect, and support each others’ own unique purpose, learning as we do so that there is no separation, we are all part of the whole. This communication is used regularly at Cape CROW, and has added another dimension to the healing of the inmates, besides listening to their very vocal and rather volatile vocabulary! Many human friends, volunteers, supporters, adoptive families, have wanted to understand this aspect of the work at Cape CROW, and all the baboons and other fauna communicate in this way too. Matthew himself has grown into an alpha male with stature and quiet wisdom, much of which was gained via inter-species communication. Joshua had a great influence on young Matthew when there was no troop to learn from.
During the following year more baboons were brought to the centre and Matthew moved to an open-topped, electrified fenced enclosure with a number of these baboons. Joshua and Beth remained in the nursery enclosure to support Nola as surrogate mother and alpha male to the babies as they were weaned off their bottles.
Alice, Meg, Benjamin, Stephen, Paul, Gemma, Brigitte, Donna, Tracy, Susie, Lucas and Jade, joined Matthew --- and this became the first troop that would be relocated to 5 hect. enclosure on the land acquired adjacent to “The Manger”, named “Matthew’s Paradise.” This relocation took place on Oct 22 2008, a major highlight in the rehabilitation journey of these baboons. Benjamin did not go, as he showed the potential of heading up the second troop to be relocated(now 24 in this troop), and Tracy died in childbirth – giving the rest of the troop an opportunity of mourning one of their family in a nurtured environment. Death was not the only challenge the baboons had to face --- they also had to acquire their social skills, take their place in the hierarchy that is part of baboon behaviour, make friendships and alliances, enjoy both giving and receiving grooming, and then another highlight, the birth of the first baby in that troop --- an infant daughter to Meg, who has become the matriarch of the troop, and her alpha male, Matthew. How proud those two were that day, and how excited the whole troop was.
It took a little time for the large 5 hect. enclosure to be completed, during which time Gemma, Brigitte, Donna, Susie and Jade all had babies, and by the time the troop was relocated to Matthew’s Paradise, 19 baboons were moved to their new semi-wild home. Their joy at their new-found, almost complete freedom was quite overwhelming --- they could run and run, climb, forage, and play. That move took place only a few months ago, and already many wild baboon characteristics have “kicked in”. Matthew is leading the troop, protecting his family, especially at sunset, when he calls them all together. Stephen is second in command, but at 6 years old, is still too young to exchange roles with Matthew, who is now nearly 9. Paul (now almost 11) is a favourite uncle to all the babies, letting many of them hitch a lift on his back or tummy. Lucas (now 5) just loves life and runs all over the place. The girls have established their hierarchy, mostly respecting and obeying Matthew, but every so often, running off with Stephen --- or even Lucas or Paul. The babies are growing into happy, free, juveniles – their life is one long play-time!!! There is Amy, Maggie, Jacob, Elohapi, Kayala, Moya, Paula, and Jamie.
And that’s the progress so far. The next step will be relocation into the 100 hect. enclosure on Matthew’s Paradise. This enclosure is currently under construction, so until it is complete Matthew’s troop will remain where they are, enjoying and mastering the challenges of the re-wilding process.
