Keanan Harmse
Keanan.Harmse@novusmedia.co.za
An activist fears for the safety and well-being of five baboon troops after the City, in partnership with various role players confirmed they will carry out an operation to safely remove the primates from the Cape Peninsula.
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) stated that the Cape Peninsula baboon troops have severely regressed in the last three years.
The CPBMJTT also mentioned that the baboon population has increased to the extent that it was exhausting their resources.
In the light of this, the task team consisting of representatives from the South African National Parks (SANParks), CapeNature and the City hosted its second meeting with the Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group (CPBAG) to discuss these matters on Tuesday 27 May.
Previously, People’s Post reported that activists were finding far too many baboons with air-rifle wounds across the Peninsula and were calling on the community to report these crimes.
The most recent incident involved a baboon known in the False Bay Community as Blondie (TK66) who was found dead in Palace Hill Road on Saturday morning 5 April after succumbing to a gunshot wound to the chest (“Activists demand action,” People’s Post 16 April).
CPBMJTT says their intention is to: “ensure the Cape Peninsula has a baboon population that is well-managed, healthy and free ranging in the natural areas” and remove five splinter troops.
The troops could be removed in the following methods: translocation for rewilding, capture and removal to an existing sanctuary or to a newly established sanctuary, humane euthanasia, or a combination of these options, the City confirmed.
“Rangers have very little success in keeping the baboons out of the urban areas leading to an over-reliance on aversion techniques; the health and welfare of the troops are severely compromised; and escalating conflict between baboons and residents is being recorded,” the City said.
Spokesperson at the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation Lynda Silk says she is concerned about the well-being of the baboon troops and is strictly opposed to culling the mammals.
CPCC is a non-profit organisation (NPO) that focuses on educating the community on the importance of biodiversity, through various projects such as Baboon Wise, Nature Club and Safe in the Sea.
“To remove, most likely by killing, a quarter of the Cape Peninsula’s managed baboon population is deeply shocking. There are a lot of questions and serious ethical dilemmas that this raises and need to be seriously investigated.
“Baboons are intelligent and often difficult to trap or dart even in single numbers. There is no way this will not be traumatic for these highly sentient animals. It will also likely be traumatic for surrounding communities,” she said.
The Cape Baboon Partnership spokesperson Kim Leeuwner told People’s Post that: “although culling is one of the options tabled it is certainly not a foregone conclusion”.
The public can comment on the manner in which these troops should be removed and these strategies will also be reviewed by a panel of external international and local experts.
“CT1, a splinter troop, lives north of Constantia Nek with very limited access to natural areas below 230m between the vineyards and residential suburbs.
“CT2, splintered from CT1, lives north of Constantia Nek all the way to Kirstenbosch and Constantia Village. There is a high level of human induced injuries and deaths recorded in this troop.
“Waterfall, splintered from the Smitswinkel troop, lives on the southern border of Simon’s Town. The troop is highly habituated, and have very poor welfare status with high levels of human induced injuries and deaths.
“Seaforth splintered from the “Smitswinkel Bay troop and moved north of Murdoch Valley. This troop poses an ongoing threat to the critically endangered African Penguin colony and visits this area on a weekly basis.
“Da Gama4, splintered from the Da Gama troop and lives in and around Welcome Glen, Glencairn and the Da Gama residential areas, is habituated to people and the urban environment.” the City said.
“As a community engaged and representative body, Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation encourages residents and concerned parties to give feedback on this pending action. If you would like us to give your feedback to JTT, please submit to info@cpcc.org.za. Alternatively email cpbmjtt@capenature.co.za and cc us,” Silk said.
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