Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation takes place in four phases, and can take anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on the progress of the individual baboon. Ultimately, rehabilitation should lead to final release of baboons back into wild or protected areas.

Primary phase

• For young baboon babies, age birth to 10 weeks - Cages: Young orphaned animals would be housed in large protected cages until large enough to be moved into secondary phase
• 3 to 8 months with surrogate mother.

Secondary phase

• Closed cage.
• Initial socialisation and group interaction/ independent feeding.
• 1 to 3 years dependent on progress.

Tertiary phase

• Open-topped fenced area (electrified at top) with indigenous vegetation.
• Troop/ hierarchy development and survival skills development.
• This process must allow for the formation of social groups. Should the population divide into more than one group the decision to separate groups would be taken only after in depth consultation with advisory primatologists.
• No releases would take place until a cohort of mature animals (5 - 6 yr.) was established.
• Social groups must be coherent and function as a group.
• Relationships must have been formed and the group should be of varied ages.
• 1 to 3 years dependent on progress.

Penultimate phase

• Large electrified fenced area (50 - 100 hectares) of Karoo koppie and plain area with indigenous flora and fauna for the full development of natural survival processes of the troop.
• This would allow close scientific monitoring and observation under guidance of experts like Prof. Peter Henzi and Dr David Gaynor.
• As well as being involved with all releases, they would also monitor and advise on scientific monitoring of releases, assessment of their success, and ongoing assessment and monitoring of long-term progress.
• 1 to 3 years dependent on progress.