Free To Be Wild

When Free to be Wild (FTBW) began in 2013, an increasing number of primates in Zimbabwe were being kept in captivity, no one had conducted a successful primate release in the country, and the wildlife authorities thought wildlife, particularly primates, in captivity could not be released. FTBW aimed to be a pioneer in primate rehabilitation and reintroduction in Zimbabwe and to change opinions about monkeys and baboons. Now the organisation reintroduces primates in close collaboration with the authorities, who are understanding that primates are a valuable part of the ecosystem. Having achieved its initial goals, the natural next step for FTBW is to expand its focus to become a leader in wildlife conservation, both within and beyond Zimbabwe. The next program in this direction will address the major cause of orphaned primates in Zimbabwe: farmers killing monkeys that eat crops. The organisation will continue to manage a sanctuary that rescues diverse wild animals and provides excellent care, and it will complement this by also focusing on conservation, especially reducing human-wildlife conflict. FTBW will protect entire species as well as individual animals, reducing the reasons that they need to go to the sanctuary.