Cape Town's Chacma Baboons

Tagged for Death:  Anele, son of Eric,  Cape Town's oldest and best known baboon stands on a rock, his tagged ear showing he too is on "death row", as Cape Town's baboons become candidates for culling during the new service provider's first month on the job

Dear Alderman Dan Plato and Alderman Ian Neilson


As you may know, plans are underway to cull Cape Town's baboons and Bart, a dispersing male recently seen at UCT is one of the first males tagged for euthansia. Three offers have been made to relocate him and other dispersing males elsewhere off the Peninsula rather than cull them, but these are being ignored by the Wildlife Advisory Committee.

As I write, Bart may already be dead. NatConCor, the new service provider, earlier today confirmed his death is imminent.

Other Peninsula baboons are equally at risk, including Anele, the son of Cape Town's oldest baboon, Eric who recently survived an attack by two dogs.  Both Anele and Eric gained fame when they embarked on a father-son walkabout, visiting several coastal towns.  Such a walk, under the new protocol would be a step towards their euthanasia.  

According to a protocol prepared and presented last week by UCT's Baboon Research Unit under the leadership of Justin O'Riain, dispersing males and repeat raiders may be euthanased. "Repeat raiders" would include any number of Cape Town's baboons, effectively doing away with their protected status on the Peninsula.

At the "Baboon expert workshop" of 2 July 2009, Fanie Bekker of CapeNature had called for baboons to be included in "legal protocols" as "damage-causing animals", in effect the status they have in the rest of the country where they are not protected and are indiscriminately killed.

Residents who do not or refuse to take security measures on house and bin encourage baboons to raid and often become frustrated with baboons, causing them severe injuries. Baboon Matters has dealt with hundreds of calls a year regarding injured baboons. Yet, other residents who take the simple measures required, live in the same areas, the very same streets for 5, 10 or more years without any baboon incursions and enjoy the privilege of occasionally seeing wildlife.

In the past six months, numerous inaccurate allegations have been made by some residents who have also called for baboon-free neighbourhoods, claiming that baboons are dangerous to human security and safety. Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt stated at the "Baboon expert workshop" on July 2, that "safety and security" is the City's mandate, and would be the criterion that determined the future of the baboons. 

Dr O'Riain of BRU was recently quoted as saying that viewing baboons as "very dangerous to humans" is one of the most damaging myths to baboons. As this viewpoint has underpinned a number of recent decisions, this is one statement of his regarding baboons that must be concurred with.

I would ask you please, as the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, in the interests of the baboons as well as Cape Town as a whole, to halt all culling of the baboons with immediate effect, at the very least until the whole situation can be reviewed again and fresh input is gained from experts other than those already involved as well as the public and residents of Cape Town who have not realised the implications of the changes in service provider management and strategies. 

From the concerted campaign against baboons this year, including portraying them as dangerous to humans, to the controversial awarding of the monitoring contract to a new service provider, to the controversial new management strategies including the culling of Cape Town's baboons, this matter must be reviewed completely without partiality or bias.

I believe one cannot underestimate the outcry there will be once the culling of Cape Town's baboons begins, either locally or internationally, and how it will tarnish Cape Town's image as a city that prides itself on its biodiversity while also reflecting poorly on all involved in the recent decision-making process.

If the right decisions are not made, Cape Town has a lot to lose, including its valued but extremely vulnerable baboons, as much a part of Cape Town as the Table Mountain they once roamed before human settlement.

Sincerely
Lorna Thomas


Sent to:

Executive Mayor Alderman Dan Plato
mayor.mayor@capetown.gov.za

Executive Deputy Mayor Alderman Ian Neilson
ian.neilson@capetown.gov.za