the team that C.A.R.E.
None of what we achieve would be possible without volunteers; your help, hard-work and teamwork.
Caring for 437 baboons, rescuing animals and releasing them back into the wild would be impossible without your help and volunteers. Your donations enable us to achieve incredible things for the baboons in our care.
Our team is mostly made up of volunteers.
The volunteers are educated and experienced professionals that have fallen in love with the baboons and project.
Our Managing Director Stephen Munro is a dedicated, humble, passionate, experienced and knowledgeable leader; been in love with the baboons and volunteering for over 15 years.
We have a big team of 14 local staff, 5 permanent volunteer staff-members and 10-20 short-term volunteers which are desperately needed to make a difference to the animals lives.
C.A.R.E.'s dedicated Managing Director
Stephen Munro
Scottish born Stephen has a Batchelor of Science in Animal Care from the University of Aberdeen and has worked (volunteered) at C.A.R.E. since 2003; first joining as a volunteer as part of his degree requirements. Our late Founder Rita Miljo entrusted Stephen to become the first ever male surrogate at C.A.R.E. to a baboon orphan, Blue. Shortly followed by Scruffy; baboons he successfully released with the social troop formed at C.A.R.E. in 2014.
Stephen, a vegetarian, has always had a life-long passion for primates and animal welfare.
In 2006 Stephen became C.A.R.E.'s Release Manager & successfully released his first troop of baboons. This has been followed with a further 7 releases. Stephen possibly has the most experience globally of rehabilitating chacma baboons and releasing them.
We truly hope we add many more releases to the list. He is very at home in the bush on releases, and also very hands-on at the Centre too. Stephen has lots of veterinary experience and very capable of handling a dart gun. However, he is very humble and a genuinely nice guy with sound ethics. Stephen was Rita's right-hand man and worked closely with her for many years. She trusted him fully with every aspect of running the centre and made him a co-director in 2010.
Stephen became Centre Manager in 2009, followed by Director (co) in 2010. After the tragic death of C.A.R.E.'s founder Rita Miljo Stephen was bequeathed the property upon which C.A.R.E. is built & became Managing Director.
Stephen now runs the centre with his partner Samantha Dewhirst, living onsite with their young daughter Sophia.
Stephen is experienced yet modest & sincere. He has incredible knowledge of baboons and their management; he has patience and is quietly very capable of being an industrious, strong leader of C.A.R.E.
Stephen is dedicated and passionate about the welfare of the baboons in his charge, committed to developing and evolving the centre and giving each baboon a chance of freedom.
Assisting Managing Director
Samantha Dewhirst
Samantha has a Master of Science in Primate Conservation from Oxford Brookes University and first fell in love with the baboons and C.A.R.E. as a volunteer in 2006 as part of her Batchelor studies.
Samantha has experienced animal husbandry in various animal establishments; she volunteered at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park, Wilmar Animal Sanctuary (E.Cape) and worked at Monkey World (UK) with chimpanzees and other primates and also worked at Chessington (UK). At C.A.R.E. and the local Veterinary Clinic in Phalaborwa Samantha gained additional veterinary skills and is capable of handling emergency situations.
At 19, Samantha volunteered to help Dr Jane Goodall, doing her personal filing at her home, the Birches and also volunteered to assist in their UK marketing office and at book signing events which provided great insight into the 'behind the scenes' of charity organisations. This along with a personal passion for photography, photo editing and amateur web design has enabled C.A.R.E. to evolve into the digital realm of online marketing and education with ease and minimal cost, she is always on the look-out for professional help though!
Samantha has a passion for conservation and education and worked teaching in a Nepalese Children's Orphanage for a few months before joining C.A.R.E. full-time to help develop the marketing and educational aspects of running the centre in 2011. Due to shortages of long-term staff Samantha was naturally heavily involved with hand-raising the orphan baboons and in 2012 evolved to manage the Phase 1 rehabilitation and also the rehabilitation and integration project of 11 ex-laboratory baboons.
After the tragic death of C.A.R.E.'s Founder Rita Miljo, Samantha took on more responsibilities; over-seeing and Co-Ordinating the Phase I Rehabilitation, was committed to improve policies and procedures and assisted Stephen to plan, budget and project manage the building of new facilities and enclosure improvements. Samantha is dedicated to primate conservation, improving welfare and facilities and ensuring C.A.R.E. succeeds in the mission to provide excellent care, release the baboons and provides education to local communities and tourists.
Isaac
Maintenance & General Assistant
If it's broken Isaac's your guy. If it needs making; Isaac's your guy! If someone needs moving, call Isaac. Been with us for more than 10 years.
Jafta
General Sanctuary Assistant
You can always rely on Jafta to go the extra mile with a smile. Jafta feeds the baboons, cleans enclosures and helps anywhere and everywhere. Jafta is a real asset.
Ross
General Sanctuary Assistant
Ross takes his job seriously and is a great driver of the food truck too. Ross helps to prepare the food, feed the baboons and assist wherever needed. He is a responsible guy.
Nette
Cleaning Lady
So much more than a cleaning lady; Netta is reliable, trustworthy & responsible. No one can do laundry like Netta. Netta likes a joke & will always help whenever asked.
Erens
General Sanctuary Assistant
Erens works hard and fast. If you want something done quickly, Erens is your guy. He prepares the food fast, feeds the baboons & helps in the gardens. Honest & trustworthy.
There's more
Our Main Team and Longterm team are amazing.
Gilbert drives the food, Fani is always smiling whilst feeding the baboons and our longterm team is passionate & dedicated.