Animal activists reject bid to remove baboon troops from Cape Peninsula
This comes after the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), which includes representatives of South African National Parks, Cape Nature, and the City of Cape Town, issued a controversial proposal to translocate the animals, whose population has exceeded available management resources.
Last month, the CPBMJTT submitted a proposal for public comments in which it sought to remove five troops of baboons from around the Cape Peninsula.
According to data, the population has increased far beyond management, placing pressure on available resources.
The proposal includes the following options for baboon population: translocation for rewilding, capture and removal to an existing sanctuary or to a newly established sanctuary, humane euthanasia, or a combination of these options.
Baboon troops would be removed from the following areas: Constantia Nek, Kirstenbosch, Constantia Village, Waterfall, Simon's Town, Seaforth, Murdoch Valley, Welcome Glen, Glencairn and the Da Gama residential areas.
Local and international experts have been invited to review the proposal and will be included in the project.
Meanwhile, animal activists descended on Simon's Town to protest against the removal of baboon troops.
The Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation shared in a social media post: 'These baboons are part of this place — they are not intruders, but residents of a rapidly shrinking wild world who were here long before our cityscape. As urban development continues to fragment and destroy habitats and ecosystems, baboons could be seen to be here with a message. Are we going to shoot the messenger?'. @manditshwete Baboon conservation march in Simon's Town. Hundreds of people gathered as they marched against the killing of baboons in Cape Town. #southafricatiktok #capetown #sama28 #fypシ #fyp ♬ original sound – Mandilakhe Tshwete @manditshwete #tiktoklive #livehighlights @The Cape Argus @IOL NEWS @CapeTimesSA ♬ original sound – Mandilakhe Tshwete
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) has also strongly opposed the proposal. In a cease-and-desist letter to CPBMTT, the organisation called on authorities to develop sustainable endeavors to manage the baboon population, particularly in low-lying areas.
'From legal and good governance perspectives, ethical considerations based on sentience, flourishing, multispecies justice, and shared biology must be major considerations.
'The onus, therefore, of the CPBMJTT and their ecologists, is to formulate ethical management practices that reflect and take cognisance of multispecies interactions, peaceful cohabitation and the need for a more responsible model of harmonious multispecies co-existence'.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
National Women's Day: Do South Africans get a day off?
South Africa will celebrate National Women's Day this weekend, but does this public holiday grant a day off for workers? Well, since the 9th of August falls on a Saturday this year, it seems South Africans are out of luck. According to the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994), when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a day off. However, if the holiday falls on a Saturday, it is treated as part of the regular weekend. Despite this bad luck, National Women's Day is still a significantly important holiday in South Africa. Observed annually on 9 August, commemorates the 1956 march of over 20 000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. These women, led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, stood united against the apartheid government's pass laws – a defining moment in South Africa's struggle for equality and women's rights. The day is not only symbolic of the sacrifices made but also serves as a time to reflect on the progress achieved and the challenges that remain in the fight for gender equality. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality commits to resolving Kings Beach stink
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has committed to fully restoring the sewer system in the Kings Beach and surrounding areas in Gqeberha. Image: Facebook Home » Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality commits to resolving Kings Beach stink The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has committed to fully restoring the sewer system in the Kings Beach and surrounding areas in Gqeberha. Image: Facebook The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has committed to fully restoring the sewer system in the Kings Beach and surrounding areas in Gqeberha. This follows recent heavy rainfall, which led to a new sewerage spill in the Kings Beach parking area, despite existing flow control measures and bypass pumping infrastructure in the harbour. According to the municipality, the spill was contained, and cleaning and treatment (dosing) of the affected area are currently underway to reduce E. coli levels and address odour. In anticipation of further rainfall in the coming days, the municipality has instructed its appointed contractor to deploy an additional bypass pump to better manage the increased stormwater flow and help prevent further overflows. 'A second contractor visited the site to assess the damage and begin repair work. What was initially a point repair has escalated into a more extensive intervention due to further collapse of the sewer line. 'The original repair method required specialised dewatering equipment from Cape Town, which would only be available by 13 August, potentially delaying progress. To avoid this, an alternative technology has been selected to expedite the repair process,' the municipality said in a statement. The newly appointed contractor has confirmed that all the necessary pipes are already in stock, and the repair is expected to be completed within two to three weeks, provided no further collapses occur during excavation. The metro reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing maintenance and upgrades of the sanitation infrastructure, considering the challenge of aging infrastructure and budget constraints. The metro also acknowledged the economic impact of the spillages in the bigger value chain, especially on the tourism sector. 'It is for this reason that whenever there is a problem, we swiftly mobilise resources to restore the situation in the shortest possible time. Water quality testing is ongoing to determine when it will be safe to reopen the beach to the public. 'We thank the public for their patience and cooperation, and will continue to provide updates as work progresses,' the municipality said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
SA's upcoming public holiday falls flat for workers this week
South Africa is gearing up to celebrate National Women's Day this week, but there's a catch that has many people disappointed. This year, the important public holiday falls on a Saturday, meaning South Africans do not get a day off. This is according to the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994), which states that whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it will also be a public holiday. However, for public holidays that fall on a Saturday, it's just a 'normal' weekend day. National Women's Day, celebrated on 9 August every year, is one of the country's most significant public holidays. It commemorates the historic 1956 march where over 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the apartheid government's pass laws. The march, led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, is remembered as a defining moment in the fight for equality and women's rights in South Africa. The holiday is not just symbolic – it also serves as a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and the challenges that remain. However, because National Women's Day lands on a Saturday this year, South Africans working a standard Monday-to-Friday week won't get an extra day off. That means many people who were hoping for a long weekend will have to settle for a normal one! Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
