Bid to introduce ‘baboon protectors’
Tourists keep a wary distance from Harry the baboon in Kommetjie. Tourists keep a wary distance from Harry the baboon in Kommetjie.
JOHN YELD
Environment & Science Writer
A STRATEGY designed by a non-government group to help reduce conflict between Peninsula residents and baboon troops is being finalised, say the authors.
Sponsored partly by a donation of R100 000 from an unnamed Cape Town couple, the strategy includes use of “baboon protectors” whose job is to keep people such as tourists away from troops and to explain to them why they should not interact with these wild animals.
The protectors are separate from but will work in conjunction with monitors who keep baboons out of residential areas.
The strategy has been devised by the Baboon Liaison Group.
It says a pilot project in which a protector was on duty from dawn to dusk, wearing a distinctive vest and using a cellphone and camera to record and report “difficult situations”, had been successful over the recent holiday period.
The group liaises between communities and authorities to ensure the humane and effective management of the baboons, says chairman Dr Graham Nobel.
“Our long-term vision is that the Peninsula’s baboons spend all their time in natural habitat and stay out of residential areas entirely. In terms of this vision, residents and visitors will be aware of the consequences of purposely or negligently feeding or harming baboons.
“We believe the more effectively baboons and humans can be kept apart, the safer both will be, and the integrity of the natural Peninsula fauna will be enhanced for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to our World Heritage Site.”
The finalisation of the strategy comes as differences of opinion about baboon management on the Peninsula have been highlighted in protests about the recent putting down of “Fred”, the alpha male of the Smitswinkel Bay troop.
On Friday, representatives of conservation groups handed the MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, a petition expressing anger at the baboon policy in the province.
Beauty Without Cruelty accused the provincial and local authorities of “implementing plans, policy and regulations opposed to the conservation, rehabilitation and care of our natural resources and wildlife”.
Wessa (Wildlife & Environment Society of SA), which had helped publicise the protest, issued a press release by the Baboon Liaison Group and a fact sheet of scientific information compiled by Associate Professor Justin O’Riain, who heads UCT’s Baboon Research Unit, saying people had to make up their own minds.
john.yeld@inl.co.za