Sebastian
Together with a female that died after developing peritonitis after being shot with a pellet gun, Sebastian, an adult male baboon was yet another of the Peninsula baboons that died in November 2010.
These deaths, as well as other injuries to baboons that month, including broken legs, again raise questions as to why there is a necessity for culling protocols given the already high injury and attrition rate.
Sebastian was originally from the Tokai troop. In 2008, as a young mature baboon he made his way to the Glencairn area where after some fierce fights for dominance he joined another male forming a small troop, split or fissioned from the existing larger troop in the area.
The
fact that he was able to do so on his own proved that it was still
possible for males to disperse by themselves in the Peninsula, as had
William ( culled in terms of protocols in July 2010.)
(The dispersing male protocol assumes males have to cross the Cape Flats to get to the Hottentots Holland mountains beyond. Amongst other categories, the new individual raider protocol of June 2010 targets fission troops which are the result of a successful dispersal attempt.)
The new troop consisted of three females and several small baboons. Sebastian and the Alpha male were both tolerant and protective of the youngsters, as male baboons are, although if a newcomer succeeds in taking over the troop, he may commit infanticide in order to bring lactating females into the reproductive cycle. Troops with only one or two males will fight especially hard to defend the young against an intruder.
Another male baboon, Anele, was moved into the area by the research unit, against Baboon Matters' advice as there were already enough males. This would also predictably precipitate unnecessary and fierce fighting - as it did - disrupting a previously well functioning little troop. Both males and especially Sebastian would however, at times keep Anele company on the perimeter of the troop.
Ironically, one year after Anele was knocked down and killed on 20 November 2009, monitors told a resident on 18 November that Sebastian was dragging his legs and in obvious pain. On 19th November the resident contacted the service provider (who had shortly before been awarded a new 18 month contract). Sebastian was found dead by someone walking their dog on the 23 November, 2010.
