He and his partner Carol Booth have spent decades rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing thousands of vervet monkeys, often working 20-hour days responding to emergencies.
“Back a buddy” refers to BackaBuddy.co.za, a popular South African crowdfunding platform for personal and community causes like medical bills.
Current Situation
Steve has been battling cancer (recent updates indicate it has metastasized to stage 4). His supporters, including Carol, have launched or promoted a BackaBuddy campaign titled “Our buddy Steve – the Monkey Man” to help cover treatment, debts, and related costs.
- Campaign link: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/our-buddy-steve-the-monkey-man
- As of recent checks, it had raised around R21,859 toward an R80,000 goal (percentages and totals can change quickly).
Donations go directly toward his medical needs so he can continue his vital work with Monkey Helpline.
How to Support (“Back a Buddy”)
- Donate directly on the BackaBuddy page (supports local payment methods like EFT).
- Share the campaign widely on social media, WhatsApp groups, Facebook, etc. — visibility is often as important as funds.
- Follow updates via Monkey Helpline’s channels or Carol Booth’s Facebook for the latest on Steve’s health and needs.
Broader Context on Monkey Helpline
- Long-term impact: Steve and the team have handled rescues, injuries, human-monkey conflict, rehabilitation, and sanctuary work for years in KwaZulu-Natal.
- They rely heavily on public support, volunteers, and donations — Steve’s health challenges add extra strain.
- Past fundraisers have helped with surgeries, sanctuary rebuilding after setbacks, and ongoing operations.
Supporting Steve helps not only him personally but sustains the organization that protects vulnerable vervet monkeys in the region. Even small contributions or shares make a difference in community-driven causes like this.
