Born Free

Category: Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project | Date: Sep 01 2009 | By: bornfree

ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT TURNS TO MUNDA WANDA TRUST AND BORN FREE FOUNDATION TO RESOLVE PRIMATE PROBLEMS

In an unprecedented and much to be welcomed move, the President of Zambia, His Excellency Rupiah Banda, has turned to the Munda Wanga Trust and Born Free Foundation to humanely resolve problems involving primates in and around the grounds of State House.

It is estimated that there are approximately 200 primates involved and the President wanted some of them removed, relocated and released humanely back into the wild so turned to the Munda Wanga Trust and Born Free Foundation’s Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project to ensure this was done professionally.

The Munda Wanga Trust, which has been working closely with the Born Free Foundation for over five years, and has considerable experience rehabilitating and reintroducing vervet monkeys and yellow baboons into the wild, immediately responded to this Presidential request.  “Clearly, the grounds of State House were becoming overcrowded and some primates were escaping and becoming a nuisance to the Lusaka Golf Course, nearby hotel and local residential properties and embassies in the area.  Naturally, we agreed to assist and the operation is underway” said Bill Thomas OBE, Director of the Trust.

So far, 61 primates have been humanely captured and translocated to Munda Wanga where they are being accommodated, medically assessed and cared for.  The plan is to release as many as possible into the wild as part of integrated social groups.  The primates are prepared for their rehabilitation in a number of ways including predator avoidance training and exposure to naturally occurring fruits and seeds so that they stand the best possible chance of a successful transition to their natural habitat.

“It is obviously incredibly heartening that the President himself has personally taken this humane course of action and that he has turned to the Munda Wanga Trust and Born Free to carry out Operation ‘Shining Example’.  It is a significant vote of confidence in our abilities” said Virginia McKenna OBE, founder of the Born Free Foundation.  “However, it has naturally placed a considerable strain on our resources both human and financial and I urge all those who care about the welfare and the future prospects of these animals, to contact us and support us in whatever way they can.”

The Trust estimates that it will cost approximately US$50,000 to  remove approximately 200 primates from the grounds of State House and see the translocation through to a successful conclusion.

If you would like to donate to this project, please donate in the “Open donation” section to the right of this column stating that you would like to donate to Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project.  Any funds you are able to offer would be very much appreciated.

Please check back for further updates from Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project and the progress of Operation “Shining Example”!

One response so far