The X-ray of a Simon’s Town baboon injured in a fight last week revealed 15 pellets painfully lodged inside its body.
Embedded under layers of skin and hidden from sight, the body of Van Damme, the baboon, had one pellet stuck in its ear canal and another in its chest.
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A statement released by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, stated that it had suffered “penetrating wounds” all over its body, from buttocks, legs and chest to the ear canal.
“The Cape of Good Hope SPCA deeply regrets to announce the euthanasia of the adult male baboon WF8, better known to locals and his fans as ‘Van Damme’.”
He was humanely put to sleep on Tuesday 21 February, after a full vet assessment of severe bite wounds sustained from a fight with another baboon a few days prior.
The altercation left Van Damme with injuries to his face, arms and chest, which saw him “tragically blinded in one eye. “X-rays taken revealed that in addition to these wounds, he had suffered up to 15 penetrating pellet gun wounds that had lodged in his abdomen, both legs, buttocks, chest and arms and with a large-calibre pellet lodged in his ear canal.
“The severity of the wounds would have required an extended healing process with repeat medical procedures, subjecting him to a painful and prolonged recovery period.”
The statement added it would not have been fair or kind to keep the baboon medicated, isolated and separated from its troop for such a long recovery time.
“Importantly, given the loss of vision in one eye, returning him to the troop would not be a viable or humane option as this would increase his vulnerability to welfare risks.
“We always prioritise the welfare and long-term quality of life of the animals entrusted to our care. We do not consider an animal’s prior habits to be a deciding factor in any decision that we take, nor do we allow external pressures to affect our decisions unless they are based on expert veterinary advice and the best welfare practices. We are deeply saddened by Van Damme’s passing.”
Meanwhile, Jenni Trethowan, founder of the Baboon Matters Trust, said the SPCA report was “utterly tragic”.
“The lad suffered 15 pellet and high-calibre wounds before the final injury to his eye. Despite all the warnings that ‘it’s only a matter of time until a baboon attacks someone’ – this is the reality of the situation.”
Trethowan adds that humans are the aggressors who endlessly and needlessly attack baboons.
“Humans attack baboons endlessly, needlessly – 15 projectiles lodged in his body, including a high calibre pellet lodged in his ear canal. I cannot bear to imagine how that must have felt. It is truly devastating.”
In January, the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), consisting of South African National Parks (SANParks), CapeNature and the City of Cape Town, released a draft plan proposing sustainable management of the Chacma Baboon population in the Cape Peninsula.
Residents and stakeholders living in areas adjacent to baboons’ natural habitat have the opportunity to study and comment on the Proposed Baboon Strategic Management Plan (CPBSMP) released for public comment last month.
