How young monkeys become wild animals again
Reintroduction into the wild is the most important and, at the same time, the most delicate step in the rehabilitation process. Each animal is assessed individually, as its age, behaviour and state of health determine how and when its return to the wild is organised.
The journey to freedom is not a single moment, but a long-term process that requires time, patience and a great deal of experience. Step by step, the animals learn to become independent again, to find their feet in groups and to develop their natural instincts.
At the end of this long process lies the moment towards which everything is working: the animals can return to the wild.
The baby monkeys are initially bottle-fed and still need a great deal of closeness and care during this time. We humans take on the role of a surrogate mother for a certain period.
As soon as the little ones can drink from the bowl on their own, they move to the so-called ‘nursery’ together with their foster mum, Margaux.
There, they learn everything they will need later in the wild – above all, how to live in a group and communicate with one another. Vervet monkeys, for example, have different warning calls for different predators.
The baby monkeys are initially bottle-fed and still need a great deal of closeness and care during this time. We humans take on the role of a surrogate mother for a certain period.
As soon as the little ones can drink from the bowl on their own, they move to the so-called ‘nursery’ together with their foster mum, Margaux.
There, they learn everything they will need later in the wild – above all, how to live in a group and communicate with one another. Vervet monkeys, for example, have different warning calls for different predators.
At around 9 to 12 months of age, the animals move to the juvenile enclosure. From this point onwards, contact with humans is significantly reduced. The animals are only fed and their enclosures cleaned. The aim of this phase is to further strengthen the monkeys, make them more independent and encourage their natural instincts.
At around 9 to 12 months of age, the animals move to the juvenile enclosure. From this point onwards, contact with humans is significantly reduced. The animals are only fed and their enclosures cleaned. The aim of this phase is to further strengthen the monkeys, make them more independent and encourage their natural instincts.
In the next stage, the monkeys move into a much more natural environment. They spend around one to two years here, with even less contact with humans. They are now fed only through the fence. During this phase, the animals learn to organise themselves as a group and gradually get used to life in the wild.
In the next stage, the monkeys move into a much more natural environment. They spend around one to two years here, with even less contact with humans. They are now fed only through the fence. During this phase, the animals learn to organise themselves as a group and gradually get used to life in the wild.
The Wild Camp is the final stage before release into the wild. Here, too, the animals spend another one to two years until a stable and functioning group has formed. Only when the group is strong enough and all the necessary conditions have been met can the next step be taken.
The Wild Camp is the final stage before release into the wild. Here, too, the animals spend another one to two years until a stable and functioning group has formed. Only when the group is strong enough and all the necessary conditions have been met can the next step be taken.
Reintroduction into the wild takes place exclusively in protected wildlife reserves, far from civilisation, settlements and farms – without any direct contact with humans. We work closely with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency to ensure that every reintroduction is legally authorised, ecologically sound and sustainable.
Our philosophy: Every animal deserves not just survival, but a true life in freedom.
Reintroduction into the wild takes place exclusively in protected wildlife reserves, far from civilisation, settlements and farms – without any direct contact with humans. We work closely with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency to ensure that every reintroduction is legally authorised, ecologically sound and sustainable.
Our philosophy: Every animal deserves not just survival, but a true life in freedom.
Our work does not end with the release of the animals. We maintain close contact with the reserves and continue to monitor the animals’ progress. In addition, regular on-site visits are carried out to observe the animals’ behaviour, condition and adaptation. This monitoring enables us to respond to changes at an early stage, to realistically assess the success of the rehabilitation and to learn from each release for future rescues.
Our work does not end with the release. We maintain close communication with the reserves and continue to track the animals’ progress. In addition, we conduct regular on-site visits to observe the animals’ behavior, condition, and adaptation. This monitoring allows us to respond to changes early on, realistically assess the success of the rehabilitation, and learn from each release to inform future rescues.
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