15/10/2026
Four baboons. One journey. A community that never gave up.
After a year at CROW, Nonna, Willie, Pumpkin and Stoffels have begun a new chapter in their journey towards the wild. But their journey to this point began long before their departure from CROW. It started with members of the public reporting sightings, setting in motion the events that would eventually lead to their rescue and rehabilitation.
Nonna and Willie were believed to have come from a ship (one year ago), while Stoffels was found in the same area as the pair (3 months ago). Pumpkin’s story began in Kokstad, where he was found by local farmers (7 months ago). Though their beginnings were different, all four eventually found their way to CROW, where they received a year of care and rehabilitation.
Getting them to the next stage of their journey was no small undertaking. Months of planning and coordination between different parties went into making this transfer possible, from securing the necessary permits and preparing their transport boxes to organising the logistics of getting four baboons safely from KwaZulu-Natal to their new home in Limpopo. A significant step forward came when Sling Aircraft heard our story and generously agreed to sponsor their flights, helping make this journey possible. From CROW, the four baboons travelled to Virginia Airport before continuing to Johannesburg, where they were handed over to Brendan from the Owl Rescue Centre. From there, Brendan flew them to Prime CREW Wildlife in Limpopo, where their next chapter of rehabilitation would begin.
By 6 pm, all four had arrived safely at their new home. Here, Nonna, Willie, Pumpkin and Stoffels will continue their rehabilitation, where they will eventually be introduced to suitable troops. Once they have completed this stage of their journey and are ready, the ultimate goal is for them to return to the wild. After a year of caring for them, saying goodbye is never easy, but wildlife rehabilitation is about more than rescue and recovery. It is about creating opportunities for animals to live wild, independent lives beyond our care.
From the members of the public who reported their sightings, to the farmers who helped bring them to safety, the teams who cared for them, and the people who spent months planning and coordinating this transfer, every contribution played a part in getting these four baboons to this moment. A special thank you to Sling Aircraft for generously sponsoring their flights, and to Brendan and the Owl Rescue Centre for helping get them safely to Prime CREW Wildlife in Limpopo. Four baboons. Months of planning. Countless helping hands. One step closer to the wild.
Their time at CROW may have come to an end, but their story is far from over.
Follow along as Nonna, Willie, Pumpkin and Stoffels continue their journey towards a life back in the wild.
