With significant help from Born Free, the Zambia Primate Project has established a research camp at the release site where the rehabilitated primates are closely monitored after being released back to the wild by project staff and volunteers.
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With a vehicle funded by Animal Defence Trust, they monitor and record the animals’ movements, health, behavior and survival rates for six months post-release. Close monitoring enables the team to constantly improve their rehabilitation and release methods.
In conjunction with Zambian Wildlife Authority scouts from Lunga and Kalishusi local area commands, the project has established two anti-poaching units that routinely patrol the area, acting principally as a deterrent to would-be poachers in order to keep the released primates (and other wildlife in the area) safe.
The units also collect wildlife data and remove snares while they are on patrol. Any poachers detained are transferred to the local police station and sentencing data collected.
