Thanks to the help of Good Samaritans and the dedicated staff of the SPCA’s Wildlife Department, one lucky baboon had a fighting chance and a happy ending after a nasty accident.
Cape Town, South Africa (01 August 2024) – In a heartwarming tale of survival, one fortunate baboon, Kabili, is happy to finally be back home with her troop after a traumatic eye injury.
After images of the injured primate circulated on baboon spotter WhatsApp groups, showing a young female lying injured on a busy road until kind people helped her in Seaforth, Simon’s Town, the SPCA’s Wildlife Department was notified and heeded the call to assist the distressed animal in need.
As the last remaining female offspring of the Seaforth troop’s alpha male, Kabili’s future hung in the balance. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA admitted that the severity of her head and eye injuries, typically fatal in baboons, offered little hope for recovery.
Poor Kabili’s injury was suspected to have been caused by a nasty and miscalculated fall from a leap off a tall building ledge.
Back at the SPCA hospital, Kabili was carefully assessed. The bloody gash above her eye was cleaned, and X-rays were taken to check for broken bones.
After assessing Kabili’s severe injuries, medical staff wasted no time in providing her with some TLC, making sure she got pain treatment and much-needed rest. With lots of love and care, Kabili’s eye slowly healed and recovered, much to the delight of the vets. After ten days, she was strong enough to go back to her family.
Kabili’s release was planned to the T, considering the potential risks involved and mindful to minimise any further injury to herself or those attending to her release.
Everyone was happy to see her back. Her dad, Martello, was especially excited. They reunited in a heartwarming moment that made everyone smile. It was a wonderful story of survival and family love.
Commenting on the remarkable rescue, SPCA Wildlife Supervisor and Kabili care-giver Jon Friedman shared:
“It’s not often that we get to restore something so fragile back into Nature, stronger than it was when it left, so this was a very special moment for all.”
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