JOINT STATEMENT BY THE BABOON OPERATIONAL GROUP, March 25 2011 

Smitswinkel Bay baboon captured

The Baboon Operational Group (OPS team), responsible for managing baboons on the Peninsula, had to make the difficult decision to euthanize a raiding baboon in the Smitswinkel Bay area, commonly known as Fred (SWB2). The Cape Nature Wildlife Advisory Committee has agreed with this decision and given permission that the baboon be euthanized. Authorities captured the baboon this afternoon.

This baboon, the former leader of the Smitswinkel troop, is infamous for opening car doors and climbing into cars with people. He target cars with bags and visible food, but it is his ability to open closed car doors that surprised everyone passing along this scenic route to Cape Point.

The decision to have him euthanized was not taken lightly and not without extensive discussions between all role players involved. This baboon's aggression levels had recently escalated to the point where the safety of tourists, motorists and other travellers along the road past Smitswinkel Bay was being threatened. In 2010 he physically attacked and injured three people, of which two of them required medical attention. Attempts to use monitors to thwart his raids were only initially successful, but over the previous summer he had resorted to attacking monitors who tried to prevent him from getting into parked cars.

Unfortunately, this baboon's demise can be contributed mainly to the continuous misguided efforts by humans to befriend and feed baboons. Because people want to love, laugh at and be entertained by baboons, they start a cycle of events that can lead to tragedy, as in the case of this baboon. Through feeding baboons or approaching them to take photographs or generally wishing to get closer to a wild animal, the downward slide starts.

Once an animal becomes used to the high reward of human food that is rich in carbohydrates, it is reluctant to leave that behind and return to its natural diet. This baboon became increasingly intent on obtaining his reward and all efforts to thwart him only increased his determination to get to it. A number of incidents in which children secured in car seats were stuck in cars with the baboon while parents attempted to get him out had severely traumatised both parents and children.

The Baboon Operational Group is making a strong plea to both visitors and residents, be responsible and do not feed baboons. They can and should survive in the wild, feeding on what the natural vegetation provides. The feeding of baboons is also illegal. Thanks to an amendment made to the regulations in the Nature Conservation Ordinance recently, it is now also illegal to feed baboons on private property, and not only along roads anymore. All persons caught feeding baboons are liable for a fine of R1 500.

* Note:

Currently there are various parties involved in baboon management in the Cape Peninsula, these include the Baboon Liaison Group (a group comprising ratepayers and residents' associations in areas adjacent to baboons), the Baboon Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, the City of Cape Town, CapeNature and Table Mountain National Park. The Nature Conservation Corporation is the City-appointed service provider managing the baboon monitoring programme on the Peninsula.

Together, representatives from all these organisations serve together on the Baboon Operational Group (OPS team), as the decision-making body for baboon management on the Peninsula.

Statement issued by the Communication Department, City of Cape Town, March 25 2011

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