Rescue Monkeys from Lives of Abuse

The Zambia Primate Project (ZPP), a wildlife rescue program managed by Game Rangers International (GRI), is dedicated to giving orphaned and injured primates a second chance at freedom. With a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release vervet monkeys and baboons caught up in the illegal wildlife trade - or harmed through human activity - ZPP has become a lifeline for these animals. Born Free helped establish the project back in 2009 and has proudly supported it ever since. 

Earlier this year, ZPP received a tip-off about a vervet monkey being illegally kept in Kasama District. Responding swiftly, Project Manager Cosmas Mumba and officers from Department of National Parks and Wildlife(DNPW) confiscated a four-year-old female vervet. Later named Peggy, she had spent more than three years in captivity. When found, she was painfully thin, malnourished, and injured, with a heavy chain cruelly fastened around her waist. 

Just weeks later, in May, another urgent call came in,this time about a five-month-old baboon being kept as a pet in Ng’abwe. Once again, Cosmas and his team, working alongside DNPW, tracked her location down to Chibakabaka village. The young baboon, later named Jean, had a rope tied tightly around her waist. She was rushed to a veterinary clinic, where she received emergency treatment and a full health check. Despite her ordeal, Jean showed incredible resilience. With round-the-clock care from ZPP’s skilled primate handlers, she soon regained strength and was ready to begin her rehabilitation journey in quarantine. 

In June, Peggy and Jean were transferred to ZPP’s Primate Transit Home (PTH), joined by two other rescued vervet monkeys, Famous and Kiki. All four began their recovery in dedicated quarantine pens, where they received deworming medication, close monitoring, and daily care. 

When they first arrived, Peggy and Kiki were in particularly poor shape - weak, with injuries from ropes and chains, and struggling to feed properly. Famous fared slightly better, with only minor wounds, while Jean’s health was more stable. But thanks to expert care, patience, and compassion, all four have made remarkable progress. Peggy and Kiki’s wounds are healing, they are feeding well, and their energy and alertness are returning. They’ve even started vocalizing and responding to alarm calls from nearby monkeys,clear signs of reconnecting with their natural instincts. Famous and Jean, too, have gained weight, grown healthier coats, and are thriving in theirnew environment. 

The journey is far from over, but the signs are promising. Once their quarantine period is complete, Peggy, Jean, Famous, and Kiki will take the next stepjoining pre-release groups that will prepare them for the ultimate goal: a safe and lasting return to the wild. 

Links:

• https://www.bornfree.org.uk/rescue/zambia-primate-project/