Volunteer for Primates in Africa - DARWIN PRIMATE GROUP

CO-EXISTING WITH BABOONS AND MONKEYS. PRESENTATION.

Update - May 2013

THE DARWIN PRIMATE GROUP

Registered as Non-profit Organisation. Number: 059-587-NPO

AN OVERVIEW

It has been some time since I last wrote an update on our situation at the new Darwin Primate Group (DPG) and it is not because I have not thought about it many times, but because I have been hoping for a positive break before burdening you with the full story that has unfolded over the last months. Although this letter seems long, it will hopefully act as a summary for the long process we have been through and I hope by the end of it, you may have some valuable advice and pointers on how we should deal with what is occurring at present.

The Project and its Objectives:

The Darwin Primate Group is still the only official primate rescue centre operating in the Western Cape. Prior to our efforts to help injured and orphaned primates, they were generally euthanased, as there were no organisations that could help them. It is therefore of utmost importance that the presence of the Darwin Primate Group is allowed to continue operating in order to change prevailing destructive attitudes towards primates and other wildlife in this area.

It is also crucial for its future as a sustainable project that funding is raised to attain its objectives:

Objectives: To raise awareness about the ongoing conflict between humans and all primates in South Africa, to develop, publicise and advocate constructive methods to protect primate species and to work towards a safe and protective environment where these primates can be released back to the wild.

The Darwin Primate Group moves - August 2012:

The Crags is zoned as privately owned, agricultural land, with a fair amount of dairy farming taking place. This is where we have been based for the last twelve years, living in a rustic cast iron shack, choosing to live without any electricity to protect the troop of monkeys from electrocution, which had been successfully rehabilitated and released into the forest and doing this without any regret due to the indigenous surround forest with all its wildlife; an appropriate and rare area to find for a rescue project like ours. The area is situated in the buffer zone next to the Tsitsikamma National Park, which is protected and overseen by South African National Parks.
We have been attempting to help wildlife in the area about co-existing with wild primates over the last 12 years. This has been beneficial for the most part, but has also inevitably resulted in a conflict of interest with a number of local farmers. Without fences preventing wild animals from wandering onto farmlands in The Crags, our wildlife have continued to be killed without challenge.
Trapping, poisoning and shooting of wildlife is common here. Having experienced this ongoing conflict first hand, the difficulties we face is representative of a far bigger picture - we need to continue to fight and save our wildlife from lethal methods used by farmers, not only in The Crags, but all over the country.
In the first half of 2012, The Darwin Primate Group almost collapsed under heavy pressure directed at their work from neighbouring farmers. This group of residents, after refusing to try non-lethal wildlife deterrent methods, had been confronted by the DPG for shooting wildlife, including incidents of poaching conducted by their workers. Once this group had discovered that the Darwin Primate Group were planning on moving to a new and better property in the same area, they got together to attempt to shut down the work of the Darwin Primate Group This began – unbeknown to us at the time - with an attempt to get the DPG to move off the property they were renting.
Unable to find a suitable alternative and faced with the daily demands of running a sanctuary without a reliable vehicle, ongoing water problems and no electricity, it looked like the long fight had finally ended and been lost. The situation was the desperate, but thanks to Phil Wollen, and a loan from Save the Primates in Australia, the Darwin Primate Group was given a golden opportunity to progress when the new piece of forest was bought for the project in mid 2012. The new DPG property had been registered as a private nature reserve (formerly known as The Hebron Private Nature Reserve) and has a vulnerable eco-system making up part of it. We are in the process of finding out if this status is still in place and how that affects our work here (as wildlife/animal activists based in an agricultural area inhabited by self serving farmers).
The old and new DPG properties are in close proximity to each other and together, make up part of the territory that both the primates in our care and the wild baboon troop inhabit. The indigenous forest is uninterrupted between these two properties. Wildlife abounds in this area, including the wild baboon troop I have known for many years. It is a huge step forward for us as we now have underground electricity available (which does not kill animals), a main house and several cottages to accommodate volunteers. It is here that the DPG hoped to continue their work through educational drives and the rescuing, preserving and rehabilitating of primates amongst other related activities.

By November 2012, we still had not received the necessary permits to move the primates. Again, fate stepped in and brought Vernon Gibbs Halls into the picture. Vernon is the head of Eden District Muncipality and once he’d researched the situation, he offered his valuable assistance. It was Vernon we had to thank for the new potential to take this project in the direction we had dreamed of for many years. With his support and guidance, we came a bit closer to confronting the agricultural vs wildlife war in this area.
As the beginning of February approached we had much reason to feel positive and were finally feeling as if we would reach our goal to move to the new property and operate in the manner we had hoped.

January 20/0- Feb2/ 2013:

February found us frustrated and still based on the old DPG property as well as the new DPG property, waiting for permits to be issued from the authorities before we could fulfil moving all the primates onto the new property. As we were about to make the break through in acquiring permits, our sponsors – Save The Primates – expressed their discontent and sent us a “lease” agreement as “owners” of the new DPG property, to sign.

Because this “lease agreement” was not aligned with the initial Memorandum of Agreement that the DPG entered into with STP, and because signing the agreement would place our project in further danger that threatened to destroy the organisation entirely, we failed to sign the lease on the date they insisted due to looking for a better solution. As shareholders who had entered into the initial agreement in order to ensure the DPG animals a safe and secure piece of land, many of the clauses did not fit this criteria. We sought out legal help to modify the agreement in a manner whereby it would work in the best interests of both parties but this was rejected by STP who refused to make any changes.

From the start of the partnership we had found that STP’s control of our funding avenues – the adoption and volunteer programs – and their refusal to allow us to let out accommodation (as had been discussed from the beginning to bring in funds) had resulted in the DPG being:

1. Unable to address the daily demands of running a sanctuary and

2. Unable to pay back the loan to STP.

However ironic, we found that while STP was preventing us from raising funds by controlling our fundraising avenues, they were simultaneously preventing us from paying off the loan we owed them.

The ongoing discontent by both parties has unfortunately resulted in a breakdown and what has come to the fore during this process are the different visions that each party envisaged about the joint project they planned on entering together.

Below is an email sent by me to the DPG board which elaborates on the severity of this situation.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Karin Saks <karinsaks@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 7:18 AM
Subject: "Lease" agreement from STP

Dear DPG team,
Regarding the agreement recently received by STP which has been circulated to the DPG board for comment:
STP has insisted on us signing this agreement by Monday night, failing which they have threatened to send a letter to Bitou Muncipality and CNC withdrawing their approval to allow us to continue our work on the property we have invested in and now operate on.
Furthermore, they have claimed that the terms set out in their agreement are non-negotiable.
I would like to ask Gary and Sara to let us know how they would feel about the primates in our care not having our project to support them if they were able to succeed in preventing us from continuing with our work on the property we bought in partnership with them?
The agreement referred to is unreasonable and in some aspects does not align with the initial agreement entered into before the property was bought, hence we'd been in the process of re-writing the agreement to ensure it was democratically agreed to so as not to jeopardise our work and the lengthy process we have been working on with the authorities to get our project up and running.
Our priority has been the difficult process we are now working on re the agricultural/wildlife conflict we have had to endure since moving to the new property.

Please respond as soon as you can so that we can get back to STP once a document that supports the work and goals of the DPG - as well as the animals in our care - is in place.
　
Kind Regards,
Karin

The situation we face with Save The Primates has been unavoidable and we are greatly disappointed to be dealing with this while trying to keep our priorities for the animals going on a daily basis. We have looked into legal advice and will continue fighting until we are through this and able to reach the goal that was so magnificently held up for us when given this opportunity.

April 2013:

On April 15^th, we received an urgent message - from a trusted, close ocntact who insisted on remaining anonymous - that the authorities planned on shooting the monkeys on the old DPG property due the landlord issuing the authorities with a high court order to remove them.Because Save The Primates had halted the permit process we had been working on, and withdrew permission as the "owners" for us to function and continue to save primates, the monkeys could not be moved to the new DPG property. On the 16^th of April, we thankfully avoided any primates being killed but they were removed from both properties by the authorities and taken to a nearby wildlife centre where we have been assured they will be kept safe until we have a safe secure sanctuary for them to reside on. Cape Nature have been sensitive to our needs and we presently await their input on progressing. If Cape Nature accepts our plans for the future, we will be continuing by working with the owners of the wildlife centre where the primates are residing. This will be a temporary process until the Darwin Primate Group is able to find a safe, secure home to continue without the kinds of threats we have endured by landowners and Save the Primates (withdrawal of permits, legal threats to the authorities etc).

OBSTACLES TO THE REHABILITATION OF VERVET MONKEYS AND CHACMA BABOONS BACK INTO THE WILD:

OBSTACLES TO THE REHABILITATION OF VERVET MONKEYS AND CHACMA BABOONS BACK INTO THE WILD:

- Popular misconceptions about the baboon and monkey that are perpetuated by inadequate and contradictory legislation.

- Ambiguous messages conveyed to the public due to loopholes in legislation.
- Policy that does not allow these species to be released beyond an arbitrary and scientifically flawed limit of 100km radius of rehabilitation centres in the WC. This pointless limitation makes finding safe, appropriate release sites almost impossible in the Western Cape and impacts adversely on animal welfare.

Scientists have argued that one cannot allow a forest monkey to be released into a coastal area for example. This hypothesis discounts the fact that the vervet monkey is one of the most adaptable species - third in line to humans and baboons - is therefore not species-specific and is entirely capable of adapting to a wide range of environments.

- Policy that treats provinces as mini-sovereign states, and rigidly prevents these species from being imported and exported between provinces. Taking the small amount of rescue and rehab centres in SA into consideration, this law places great limitations on the rehabilitation of these primates back into the wild.
- An alleged failure on the part of provincial conservation authorities to consider the relevance of scientific papers that dispute the issue
of genetic pollution.
INADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION:
Contradictory Legislation:
In my dealings with members of the public, I have found that the contradictory message conveyed encourages the public to treat protection of wildlife as nonsensical, resulting in these laws being widely disobeyed.
These laws therefore directly impact on the large amount of vervet monkeys and baboons being shot, of orphans that result from this practice and of monkeys being illegally kept as pets.

POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS:
Popular prejudice against our wild primates is one of the most influential reasons for the manner in which the public treats them. These misconceptions need to be educated out of our culture, not perpetuated by problem animal control attitudes.
One example of a common misconception – Rabies:
Fears that Vervets are carriers of rabies or other infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans are unfounded. Like us, vervets are primates – if they carried rabies, we would be carriers too. Any mammal is able to contract rabies though.

According to Monkey Helpline of EKZN, the state vet reported that no vervet monkey rabies case has ever been recorded.

INADEQUATE SPONSORSHIP OF REPUTABLE REHABILITATION CENTRES:

Considering that conservation policies and public misconceptions directly impact on the
widespread abuse of these primate species, reputable sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres should perhaps be able to expect more support from the government in terms of sponsorship and a willingness to consider more protective legislation that is actively
enforced to ensure the work of these centres has the potential to progress in the best interests of the species and biodiversity.

This is far from the case. To date, we have found that a number of “wildlife centres” or 'sanctuaries” with commercial agendas are the centres that are most likely to be financially viable and flourish.

In short, conservation policies are encouraging the proliferation of commercially viable 'wildlife centres' where the potential for animal exploitation is strong.

This is far from being an ideal situation for the many orphaned and injured animals who need rescue and protection.
THE PRESENT REALITY:
There are over 600 baboons awaiting rehabilitation and over 700 vervet monkeys at the two most established primate sanctuaries in South Africa. The backlog of orphans residing at these centres is an indication of how severe the problem is and indicates:

-the lack of safe, appropriate release sites available, and the failure of conservation services to pro-actively promote and assist with, troop releases.

-The number of wild primates orphaned due to the popular notion that they are “worthless” animals

-The inadequate financial support offered by government.

SOLUTION:
The best answer to this widespread problem would be for conservation authorities to adopt a far more supportive role towards rehab centres, and to take animal welfare far more seriously. They should also remove onerous policy conditions, and promote uniform and protective legislation that is strongly enforced by them.
This solution would ensure that this species are no longer persecuted, seen to be worthless and less orphans and pets would be the result. The pressure on present rescue and rehabilitation centres would be lessened and full release back into the wild would become far more viable.

Karin Saks Darwinprimategroup Remembering this note I wrote a while ago. Considering our present situation and the many facets outlined above that plague most primate rehab/rescue centre in this country, we need to find a way forward in a manner that provides real, workable solutions that is in the best interests of the animals.
Karin Saks Darwinprimategroup Some of you have asked why our free roaming rescued monkeys were removed by the authorities to be placed in cages (temporarily). The answer is: the fear of genetic pollution - to put it simply, the law does not allow monkeys that come from beyond a 100 km radius to be released here. The fact that those free roaming monkeys probably did come from within a 100 km radius is not accepted due to us being unable to prove their origins (i.e. the person who brought the monkey in to us could have been lying about the monkey's origins).
Karin Saks Darwinprimategroup Hopefully the above also explains why primate rescue in South Africa is not merely a conservation issue but is very much an animal welfare issue and should be approached as such.

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We Oppose the Keeping of Monkeys as Pets - Read this to Find Out Why.

Are You Sure You Want a Monkey?
Monkey Matters Magazine
Animated, intelligent, eerily "human," monkeys are among the most fascinating animals on our planet. That's why monkeys would seem to make delightful pets. But, unlike dogs or cats, primates (all monkeys and apes) have not evolved over thousands of years to live compatibly with humans. Monkeys are not domestic pets. They are wild animals ill-equipped to adapt to the alien world of their human cousins. Keeping primates happy and healthy in captivity is difficult, expensive and time-consuming.
As you think about bringing a monkey into your home, please consider the following:
Are you prepared to live with a wild animal?
Never forget that a monkey is a wild animal. Like raccoons, their infant friendliness fades as they reach adulthood, when they become aggressive and can attack with the slightest provocation. Most monkeys you see on television or out in public are very young; adults are rarely seen outside of a cage. Even hand-rearing an infant primate does not stop this natural change in behavior. In fact, depriving a baby monkey of a normal relationship with its mother and family group can result in a lifetime of neurotic behavior.
Can you deal with the mess?
All monkey homes share something in common: broken lamps and housewares, shredded curtains, unearthed house plants - not to mention the unmistakable odor.
You must watch your monkey every second it's free. Even the smallest squirrel monkey can open a cupboard and spill containers of flour, sugar and liquid in minutes. Larger monkeys can open refrigerators, turn on faucets, rip through window screens, unlock outside doors, turn over chairs, tables, stereos and televisions. Toxic substances and medicines must be kept locked. If you can't stand cleaning up urine, feces and occasional diarrhea, don't get a monkey. Remember, that means cleaning and disinfecting every day at least, 365 days a year! Monkeys are very excitable animals. They will immediately relieve themselves whenever, and wherever, they are upset. And monkeys cannot be easily house-broken. Though you may be somewhat successful diapering or toilet training a young monkey, once the monkey reaches maturity, training is usually forgotten or ignored.
Is it legal in your area to keep a monkey?
Contact the appropriate regulatory agencies in your area (e.g. fish and game, animal control, health department) to learn of restrictions concerning individuals keeping non-human primates. Some cities and states prohibit the keeping of some or all primates, while others require special permits. Don't wait until you have a monkey to learn it's against the law in your city or state.
What will happen when your monkey grows up?
Young monkeys, like all baby animals, are sweet-natured and devoted. But be prepared for a complete change of personality when your monkey reaches sexual maturity. All monkeys become temperamental as they grow older. Keepers must be extremely sensitive to their moods, for primates will attack even their primary caretakers -- often with no warning. Like humans, each monkey has a distinct personality: some don't trust strangers or children, while others will suddenly change their devotion from one family member to another. Dressing infant monkeys up like dolls can seem irresistible. But as they grow older, most primates refuse to allow themselves to be dressed. Those purchased as surrogate children are quickly dumped when they don't live up to expectations. And if you'd like to train a monkey to do tricks, forget it ...unless you are a professional animal trainer. Even then, trainers replace their primates once they reach sexual maturity and become dangerous (most are mature by the age of four). Finally, don't forget that monkeys are uninhibited creatures who engage in natural activities that may embarrass you, including genitalia displays, masturbation, copulation and same-sex mounting.
Can you cope with aggression - and sharp teeth?
No matter what you may be told, ALL MONKEYS BITE. Biting is a primate's expression of anger and nothing you can do will change that. Punishment is usually taken as a threat and can have serious consequences. And contrary to popular belief, spaying or neutering your monkey will have little or no effect on curbing aggression. And teeth removal is not only harmful and cruel, it doesn't remove the danger: a toothless monkey can still cause painful injuries. For the protection of both the monkey and people, you must keep your primate from contact with any and all strangers -- that includes friends of your children, neighbors and relatives. In many states, health departments will destroy a monkey that has bitten to test it for rabies. You should also invest in liability insurance -- people who are bitten can sue. And make sure you have some type of comprehensive health insurance for you and your family. A bite on the hand from an adult monkey can put you out of commission for weeks.
Can you guarantee a good home for the next 20 to 40 years?
Those are the average life-spans of well tended captive primates. Monkeys don't adapt well to new situations -- especially the addition of a new spouse or children. If you are a young person, ask yourself what will happen to your monkey when you grow up. Who will take care of the monkey if you go away to college, get a job in another area or join the military? It's never easy finding a new home for an adult monkey, for they have no resale value once they outgrow their infant charm. Remember, your responsibility to the monkey will not disappear as you mature or change your life-style.
Do you have enough space? The right space?
If you don't have room for a LARGE cage, don't get a monkey. The minimum cage size for the smallest monkey is 4 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft. Monkeys require ample room (indoors and outdoors) for vigorous exercise, together with a small, enclosed area for sleeping. Many simian keepers have given over entire rooms to their monkeys! Primates become depressed, even insane, if they don't get enough mental and physical stimulation. Tire swings, climbing ropes and toys must be replaced constantly as the monkey grows bored. A monkey's environment must also be warm, dry and free from drafts. Monkeys like to sunbathe for short periods and need the vitamin D from the sun, so they must be provided with both indoor and outdoor caging with shade. If this is impossible, vitamin D must be provided orally or through the use of special vita-lights.
Can you afford the cost of feeding and caring for a monkey?
If you can't afford $25.00 (and more) per week per monkey, don't get one. Monkeys cannot live on peanuts and bananas alone. Some species have peculiar dietary needs, but all primates require a well balanced diet. This can include a foundation of commercial primate biscuits supplemented by lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, vitamins and live insects.
Who will care for your monkey when you're away?
If you like to take vacations, don't get a monkey. Monkeys like routine and familiar surroundings; they are not good traveling companions. Finding someone to monkey-sit (that means feeding, cleaning and providing hours of companionship) can be very difficult. If a monkey is left alone each day, even for just a few hours, it can suffer psychologically and may develop aberrant behavior. To keep it company, you must consider adding another of its species or perhaps keeping a small troupe of monkeys to nurture and communicate with one another.
Is there a vet in your area qualified to care for a monkey?
Many vets know very little about primates, and some won't accept primates as patients. You may have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain the most routine medical care. Before you bring a monkey home, be sure to have a qualified vet give it a complete physical. Monkeys can be permanent carriers of serious illnesses such as tuberculosis, herpes and ebola.
We hope that you will consider carefully your decision to get a monkey. If you are willing to put up with the enormous sacrifice necessary to maintain a happy and healthy simian, we invite you to join the Simian Society of America and learn firsthand about primate care before you take the plunge.

Farmers vs Wildlife - The Crags

The Crags is an agricultural area bordering the Tsitsikamma National Park. There are no fences preventing wildlife from wandering on to agricultural land where they are vulnerable to dying tortuous deaths in poachers traps, being shot by local farmers and residents or being electrocuted on pylons.

Wild primates are attracted by compost heaps, garbage, vegetable gardens, farmer's crops and horse/cow feed amongst other attractions and The Crags has an abundance of these attractions displayed by avocado/tomato and dairy farmers.

ABOVE: ENTRANCE TO THE DARWIN PRIMATE GROUP - THE CRAGS 2012

The DPG works to educate residents on how to co-exist with wildlife. This includes not feeding baboons, monkeys and other wildlife by hand, removing/hiding all attractions from properties where owners are unwilling to co-exist with wildlife harmoniously and adapting human buildings to ensure they are safe from any potential damage caused by wild primates.

Baboon Woman: Story of a Gentle Power House

By Maggie Sergio for The Huffington Post

May 2012

I heard gunfire as my friend and I walked passed a farm on a dirt road about 300 yards from her home. It was a sunny Tuesday morning on March 26^th of this year. We had ventured out for an early morning walk with her three dogs. The last thing I expected was to hear gunshots and to witness an assault on wildlife. Or worse, was this angry farmer looking to send a message to my new friend Karin Saks, aka “Baboon Woman?”

It started as a beautiful morning in the Western Cape of South Africa, in a small town along the Garden Route called “The Crags.” For those who aren’t familiar with South Africa, The Crags is a stunningly beautiful town, and a popular tourist destination. The region is surrounded by the Tskitskamma National Park and is home to about a dozen or so small farms, a backpacker’s camp called “Rocky Road,” many charming B n’ B’s, holiday houses and the Darwin Primate Group (DPG). The Darwin Primate Group is focused on rehabilitation of orphaned and injured baboons and vervet monkeys. DPG was founded by a courageous woman named Karin Saks who has been fostering these primates since 1997. Born in South Africa, Karin is a woman who has dedicated her life to the conservation of primates and has successfully rehabilitated and released 35 monkeys and is currently caring for 6 orphan baby baboons.

Karin was featured in the 2009 documentary, “Baboon Woman” and was the subject of the book, “Life with Darwin” written by Fransje Van Riel. The baby primates Karin rehabilitates became orphans due to conflicts with humans; these conflicts are most often a result of a farmer suffering crop damage. As with other animals that are labeled as “pests” or “nuisance wildlife,” baboons are often shot, snared or poisoned by farmers. Because snares, poisons and steel leg hold traps do not discriminate, other wildlife and pets are often killed in the process.

My fifth trip to South Africa included delivering a donation check to the Darwin Primate Group from the US based nonprofit, Nikela. Nikela is an emerging wildlife organization that supports a select number of wildlife conservation projects in South Africa. Knowing that access to US donors is a major hurdle for many conservation projects in South Africa, I have watched with interest and followed their progress and the projects they have supported over the last few years.

Karin Saks’ Darwin Primate Group is one of the first projects that Nikela qualified and took on as a supported project. Earlier this year, I contacted Nikela, told them of my upcoming trip and asked if there was anything I could do to help while in South Africa. I was told there was a small donation check for Karin that needed delivery. I agreed to carry and present the check to Karin, plus have some photos taken of the event.

Thrilled to be carrying out such a fun request, I decided to make things interesting by seeing if I could double the amount of the original donation from $1500 to $3000. In about a month’s time, using the ubiquitous tools of social networking, combined with personal appeals to friends and family, Nikela and I achieved our goal of doubling the donation check I would be delivering to Karin.

I also decided to volunteer at DPG to learn more about the incredible work that Karin does. In getting to know Karin I discovered a very centered and gentle powerhouse. Baboons are the most persecuted species in South Africa and Karin is not popular with her neighbors because she cares for these injured and orphaned animals considered to be pests. The laws are conflicting regarding their protection and it is perfectly acceptable to shoot baboons. While the local police will say it is not. I found in Karin, a woman that crossed the species barrier in her knowledge of primates and in her ability to communicate with them. Prior to returning an orphaned baby back to the wild, Karin must first be accepted as a member of a wild baboon troop before she can introduce a youngster to the group. Karin has been spent years observing and understanding the body language and behavior of baboons. As a result of her work she has become an expert in how to solve conflicts non-lethally and coexist.

In a former role, I served as the Director of Advocacy and Wildlife Solutions for WildCare in San Rafael, CA. For three years my work was focused on solving human-wildlife conflicts, and educating the public about how to resolve those problems non-lethally, and for the long term. Witnessing Karin’s work I observed how similar the challenges are for wildlife around the world. Karin cares for baby primates because their parents are often killed by farmers whose properties often border on wildlife areas.

Along the Garden Route it is the Tskikamma National Park. Animals are always in search of food, whether the source is natural or the result of human agriculture. Food sources for wildlife can be either livestock or crops. If food sources are left unprotected, conflicts will ensue. When animals opportunistically take advantage of the easy meals provided by agriculture, they are often shot, poisoned or snared in an attempt to control the damage. However, these methods are retaliatory and work only for the short term. As soon as an animal is removed from a territory, whether by death or relocation, a space is opened up for another animal to fill, as long as the original source or attractant is still readily available. If a mother is killed orphan babies are left behind to starve or be preyed on by other animals.

The common denominator of these wildlife conflicts globally is that humans are providing easy access to a food source when we don’t take adequate measures to protect our crops or livestock. What varies is the species of wildlife that is killed. In South Africa it is considered perfectly acceptable for a farmer to shoot baboons, vervet monkeys, jackal, and other species. Here in the US, persecuted species include wolves, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, mountain lions, and thousands of songbirds killed by agriculture every year. Most of the killing in the US is either endorsed, or perpetrated, by our own government, for the benefit of private landowners. This explosive three part story in the Sacramento Bee is the result of an investigation by journalist Tom Knudson of USDA Wildlife Services. In South Africa, many farmers simply take matters into their own hands. In all these scenarios, the victims are the animals who know no borders and move easily between wild areas and cultivated areas.

Circling back to gunshots I heard earlier. My month long visit to the Garden Route was drawing to a close, and as we walked along the dirt road that leads to Karin’s home and the primate rehab center she founded, I noticed a man about a hundred yards away waving something that could have been a stick or a golf club. From a distance it was hard to tell. Seconds later, both Karin and I noticed a wild baboon easily hoping over the small, makeshift fence that surrounds this farmer’s property. The debilitated fence was about 2 feet in height and we both immediately became concerned for the safety of this animal.

Immediately after the shots were fired; we heard hysterical screams and cries from the baboons and watched as several of them fled over the fence in terror. The only crime that these animals committed was foraging for food. The food source that attracted the baboons was made easily available to them by humans and placed out in the open. This farmer had planted a crop of tomatoes and avocadoes and took no measures to protect his crops from wildlife, despite the fact that his farm is surrounded by wilderness. Rather than investing in adequate fencing, this farmer, like most deals with the problem by shooting the offending animals.

Being in such close proximity to gunfire was unsettling. I was in a popular tourist area with a backpacker’s facility just down the road, and here we were out for a morning stroll, on a country road, with a couple of dogs. Because of her work caring for baboons it is rumored that the local farmers “have meetings about Karin.” I couldn’t help but wonder if the gunshots fired that morning as we passed were meant to send a message or not. Regardless of the intent, Karin’s courage and commitment is unwavering as she works day to day caring for the orphans and victims of agriculture and human encroachment. She has just been notified that the 17 hectare property that she has been leasing for the last 7 years is now up for sale. An international effort is now underway to assist DPG to either purchase this land or another suitable location that has just become available in the area.