C.A.R.E: The Center for Animal Rehabilitation and Education -- South Africa

Despite Chacma baboons being listed as a CITES Appendix II species, they are offered little or no protection from provincial and national conservation authorities in South Africa who often regard them as “problem animals” or vermin. Habitat destruction and agricultural encroachment has resulted in reduced home ranges, and where crops or urban habitats are threatened people often revert to drastic measures to remove the offending animals. These measures include poisoning, shooting, snaring and trapping.

Other hazards such as power lines; bush fires; poaching for bush meat and illegal trade; road accidents; and trophy hunting have also had a dramatic effect on the Chacma baboon population. This is further compounded by the fact that no census has ever been done on baboon populations which means that their numbers and conservation status are unknown. 

There was no other facility in the country which specialised solely in the treatment of these orphaned and injured primates when IFAW first became involved with C.A.R.E. In February 1996, when heavy flooding during the rainy session almost destroyed C.A.R.E.'s rehabilitation centre on the banks of the Olifants River IFAW provided funding to assist in moving the baboons to higher ground away from the flooding river.

Since then the centre has received its greatest support from an IFAW grant with  corporate sponsorship virtually non-existent. C.A.R.E does however receive “in-kind” donations of foods and other essentials from local businesses in the area.

In 2004 IFAW changed its focus on C.A.R.E to not just simply providing them a financial grant to cover their operational costs but in assisting them with the development of a release program.

Since 2003 five troops consisting of around 25 individuals per troop have been successfully re-introduced into protected areas in the Limpopo province.
  
Under the guidance of IFAW, the primate refuge is consolidating its national and global credentials, and working towards establishing new ongoing relationships that will ensure C.A.R.E.'s long-term success as a centre of excellence in the rehabilitation and re-introduction of Chacma baboons.