- The baboon ranger program in South Peninsula is set to end in November due to budget constraints, leading to significant job losses.
- Nonprofit organisations like the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) are raising concerns about the impact on both rangers and conservation efforts.
- Many rangers feel misled, believing they would have job security until the end of 2024.
The future of baboon field rangers and baboon management in the South Peninsula is hanging in the balance as authorities are yet to reveal their plans, amid budget constraints as ranger contracts come to an end.
In a statement on Thursday 29 August, NCC Environmental Services contracted by the City to manage the Urban Baboon Programme, announced the termination of field rangers with “significant job losses” by the end of November.
Non profit organisation Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) has questioned the future of baboon rangers and baboon management as well as the “valuable skills” field rangers acquired over the years.
End of income
According to CPCC chair Lynda Silk, baboon rangers were led to believe they would have an income until the end of the year.
“Tragically, our much-valued baboon rangers and all involved in the City funded Baboon ranger programme, have this week been given notice,” she commented.
“For the on-ground team, this comes as a tremendous shock as they had been led to believe, by the contract extended from June 2023 to end of December 2024, that they had a guarantee of work until the end of December.”
READ | Fate of dispersing male baboon in the hands of Cape Peninsula Baboon Management team
The action would reportedly have a detrimental effect on baboon ranger staff and their dependents, she added.
“As an estimated 400 people face the end of an income that has sustained them, that is 82 staff and their dependents, CPCC is horrified to see the City cutting jobs rather than creating jobs, in a time where there is already intense economic hardship for so many,” said Silk.
According to Silk, some of the baboon management ground staff have more than a decade of incomparable experience and insight, which would be a major loss to any baboon management programme and may not be transferable to other workspaces.
“It is not just about the baboons but the survival of South Africa’s biodiversity,” she said. “The devastation is not only ecological, or in its impact on individuals and communities; at this time, the authorities have an obligation to expand the number of jobs in the environmental sector, not to cut them.”
Clarity needed
Silk called for clarity on the way forward.
“We remind these authorities that this Unesco World Heritage site, of which TMNP is part, and which the city exists within and around, would be forever altered by the absence of baboons, who are the last remaining medium-sized mammals in this area, and who play a key role in seed dispersal of our precious fynbos.”
In a statement, the NCC thanked field rangers for their dedication while confirming significant job losses. “We want to sincerely thank our NCC Urban Baboon Programme field rangers and management staff for their dedication to their work over the past four years – which is coming to an end on 30 November,” the statement read.
READ | Tension in Kommetjie as animal rights activist defends baboons from attack
“Although the contract between NCC and the City terminates on the 31 December, NCC has had to issue notices to all UBP staff (in compliance with the Labour Relations Act), as we have been informed that there is insufficient budget to retain their services beyond the 30 November 2024, and their services will no longer be required.”
The NCC further added that, owing to the number of staff, significant job losses were inevitable.
“The NCC will try to provide employment for as many staff as possible on other programmes, but owing to the sheer number of staff involved, NCC will unfortunately not be able to provide enough work for everyone and significant job losses will be inevitable.”
Short-term solution
Meanwhile, the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) last week announced that a short-term solution will address the December period.
“We (NCC) have no knowledge of any interim or short-term solutions and, as such, we are led to assume that this short-term solution does not require the services of our field rangers.”
Meanwhile, in a separate issue, a dispersing male baboon found traversing through the Southern Suburbs last month has been euthanised.
On Tuesday 20 August, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA safely darted and moved a baboon that traversed throughout the Southern Suburbs from Constantia to Diep River, Plumstead and Lansdowne.
Questions sent to the CPBMJTT on Wednesday 21 August to ascertain whether the baboon would be relocated, moved or euthanised went unanswered.
On Wednesday 4 September, responding to follow-up questions the CPBMJTT confirmed that the decision had been made to euthanise the dispersing male baboon.
According to the task team, the decision came after the baboon apparently was not able to integrate with the natal troop. “A dispersing male baboon (TK 67), which did not want to integrate with his natal troop, lingering in Constantia for months, has been euthanised following deliberation by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT),” the statement read.
