City confirms baboon sanctuary development underway for Southern Peninsula troops

CAPE TOWN – The planning and development of the proposed sanctuary for two baboon troops in the Southern Peninsula is currently underway, the City of Cape Town confirmed.

Last year, the Cape Peninsula Baboon Action Plan for relocating the primates was approved by the City, South African National Parks (SANParks), and CapeNature.

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) is overseeing this operation and comprises three authorities: CapeNature, SANParks and the City, who are responsible for developing and implementing a baboon management programme in the Cape Peninsula.

This month, the CPBMJTT confirmed that they have approved the intention to capture and relocate two baboon troops to a purpose-built sanctuary, said the City’s manager of coastal environmental management, Gregg Oelofse.

“The globally recognised enclosure standard for chacma baboons, as set by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) Animal Care Standards, is 1.5 hectares per 20 adult baboons. The Cape of Good Hope Baboon Sanctuary will exceed this minimum guideline in order to better cater for the two troops,” he said.

The main goal of this action plan is the long-term conservation, health and welfare of the Peninsula baboon population, the CPBMJTT explains.

The plan introduces sanctuaries, fencing, waste management measures, and population controls to manage the baboon troops across the Cape Peninsula.

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“Should the sanctuary proceed, each troop will reside in their own purpose-built enclosure that meets or exceeds the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) Animal Care Standards,” Oelofse added.

Five key components

Within the framework of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Action Plan, five critical interventions are outlined:

* Sanctuary creation: Build purpose-designed baboon sanctuaries along Plateau Road

* Northern fencing: Install a baboon-proof barrier stretching from Zwaanswyk to Constantia Nek

* Waste management strategy: Introduce baboon-proof bins and enforce strict waste disposal protocols

* Urban wildlife by-law: Enact new legislation with a zero-tolerance approach to baboon interference, per the action plan

* By-law enforcement: Implement hard boundaries and enforce strict population control measures

* Troop relocation timeline

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The plan sets clear deadlines for relocating the affected baboon troops as part of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Action initiative:

* Seaforth troop: Relocate to sanctuary by February 2026

* Waterfall troop: Relocate to sanctuary by September 2026

* CT1 and CT2 troops: Relocate to mountainside by May/June 2026

* Infrastructure and safety measures

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Key infrastructure developments include plans under the Cape Peninsula Baboon Action framework:

* Northern fence: Complete construction by July 2026, from Zwaanswyk to Constantia Nek

* Baboon-proof bins: Deploy in high-impact areas by May 2026

* Sanctuary trial: Start with a 1.5-hectare enclosure on private land, featuring underground power cables to reduce electrocutions

Read the full Cape Peninsula Baboon Action Plan here: Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Action Plan 2025