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HSI SUPPORTING ZAMBIAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: 500 BABOONS RESCUED YELLOW BABOON Papio cynocephalus In late 2015 HSI travelled to Zambia to visit three import wildlife conservation programs we have supported for some years. In particular, we were keen to see the Zambia Primate Program in action in Kafue National Park. Having committed resources to the project in 2012 in co-operation with the Born Free Foundation, we wondered how else we could help a program that has rehabilitated over 500 yellow baboons (Papio cynocephaus) and vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). Cosmas Mumba and his team in Kafue National Park As their project briefing papers outline, ZPP was, “Established by and with on-going support of the Born Free Foundation (BF), the Game Rangers International (GRI) - Zambia Primate Project (ZPP) is one of Africa’s most established and successful primate release programmes. Its mission is to rescue and rehabilitate injured, orphaned and illegally held vervet monkeys and yellow baboons for release back to the wild. Primate survival rate 6 months post release currently averages a remarkable 95%. The great majority of primates that ZPP rescues are victims of the growing bush meat trade in Zambia. The mothers are slaughtered for their meat, and their babies sold into the illegal pet trade. As the babies grow and develop sharp canine teeth they are held captive using short, tight ropes tied around their waists and tormented and harassed by people and village dogs. Others are found injured in poachers’ wire snares or stoned when they come into conflict with people in the villages. Dr Cheryl Mvula, ZPP Senior Technical Advisor says “Our project is achieving outstanding success in returning rescued ex captive primates back to the wild. All but one of our 2013 vervet release troop survived 6 months post release, which is really heartening”. Deep into Kafue With colleague and wildlife artist David Southgate (who taught rangers and local school children how to draw baboons and painted two school huts with giant baboons for an upcoming field crew visit) HSI’s Michael Kennedy travelled to the remote bush fly camp deep in Kafue NP, where they were greeted by ZPP Project Manager Cosmas Mumba. From this very wild and spectacular location, ZPP, together with a Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) armed scout, they have continued to monitor a sub-group of rescued baboons that were released in 2014 into Kafue NP. To facilitate the radio-collared monitoring program, ZPP set up a temporary fly camp far into the bush close to the baboon troop territory, enabling the primates to be reached each day on foot when the project vehicle was not available. Cosmas Mumba tells us that, “At least one member of our team and a ZAWA armed scout have been permanently based at this fly camp 24/7 throughout the last 3 months to conduct daily health checks and collect focal research on individual troop members, recording their behaviour and successful adaptation from captivity to a truly wild life.” Cosmas also said that the team was “especially delighted” that the sub-group had now attached itself to a wild group and were now fully integrated, with all the baboons in great condition, and he was confident that the troop will continue to thrive when ZPP monitoring ceases at the end of October 2016. 8 Last year, Cosmas was one of three finalists in the prestigious Tusk Conservation Award in the UK and travelled to London for the event, where he met with HRH Prince William who supports the award process. We congratulate Cosmas for the international recognition of his world-class conservation success. Running with free-roaming baboons in one of Africa’s biggest wilderness parks is quite an experience, and HSI has been very pleased to provide resources to the ZPP to buy new tents and equipment* for staff and rangers to make their lives a little more comfortable as they continue to protect Zambia’s remarkable wildlife heritage. HSI also visited Sport Beattie, CEO of Game Rangers International at their very impressive ZAWA Special Anti-Poaching Unit Head - quarters, and Rachel McRobb, CEO of the South Luangwa Conservation Society (now Conservation South Luangwa) based at Zambia’s famous South Luangwa National Park. This highly effectiveNGOworks with the Zambian authorities to protect the Luangwa Valley undertaking a wide range of anti-poaching activities. HSI has been providing modest financial support to the Society for the past few years. It was also planned to visit with Robin Lines, working with the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (University of Kent) on their ‘Landscape Connectivity Program at the Kafue-KAZA-TFCA Interface’ (Okavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area) but time and distance got in the way. The program, with some support from HSI, is seeking to expand wildlife managed areas, combatting risks associated population isolation, while promoting sustainable and resilient wildlife-based land uses across vast landscapes increasingly impacted by climate change. The project is providing critical evidence-based management support on the status and species level response of large carnivores to human disturbance between Kafue National Park and adjacent wildlife managed areas in Namibia and Botswana, at the heart of KAZA-TFCA. VERVET MONKEY Chlorocebus pygerythrus Equipment purchased 5 x Tentco Senior W (one for each ZPP staff member + the ZAW 1 x dining shelter (to serve as an office); 1 x lar (storage for food and non-weatherproof equipment); gr bases enclosed by wooden plank edgings, slightly ele protect against flooding; sturdy ground sheets t life; shade cloths to cool tent interiors. Remaining r to be used for solar panels to charge camp equipment. HSI DIRECTOR • MICHAEL KENNEDY