2 days ago
Hundreds rally in Simon's Town against proposed baboon removals
Animal activists marched against the removal of baboons in Simon's Town.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete / Independent Media
Hundreds of conservationists and animal rights supporters gathered in Simon's Town on Friday to protest against the proposed removal of five baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula.
The demonstration followed growing public anger over the recent announcement by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, comprising the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, and SANParks, which confirmed that nearly a quarter of the Peninsula's managed baboon population could be removed.
Protesters, many dressed in black and carrying signs that read 'Stop the killing' and 'Baboon lives matter,' marched from Simon's Town to the local municipal offices.
Chants of 'Viva baboons' and 'Phantsi killing' echoed through the streets as residents voiced their frustration at what they called the authorities' failure to protect local wildlife.
Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
According to the task team, the decision to remove the troops was based on increased human-baboon conflict, a decline in the welfare of the animals, and their growing reliance on human food.
The five troops in question are from Simon's Town, Constantia, and Glencairn. Officials cited public safety concerns and the difficulty of keeping the animals out of residential areas despite ranger efforts.
They also warned that injuries caused by electric shocks, snares and vehicles are rising.
Activists argue that the proposed removal is not only inhumane but also avoidable. They say that authorities have ignored the core recommendations of the 2023 Baboon Strategic Management Plan, including waste control, fencing and law enforcement. Instead of implementing these non-lethal strategies, authorities have moved toward removal and possible culling.
Jenni Trethowan from Baboon Matters, one of the leading voices in the protest, said she was moved by the size of the crowd.
She described it as one of the largest public demonstrations in years on the issue. 'We didn't expect so many people to come out, but I think it shows how angry the community is. We feel ignored. The baboons are being punished for human failure,' she said.
Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation chairperson Lynda Silk, a local resident, said the animals had become scapegoats.
'It's like we like to dump our aggression somewhere, and baboons are voiceless and they don't fight back.
'They pick up a lot of human anger and irritation.'
Chad Cupido, another activist, delivered a memorandum to the local municipal office demanding immediate action.
He said the Joint Task Team had a constitutional and moral responsibility to prioritise humane solutions.
The memorandum called for waste management improvements, stricter enforcement of by-laws, fencing, accountability for residents who feed baboons or shoot at them, and better education and signage in known baboon areas.
Cupido warned that continuing with removals without addressing the root causes of conflict could deepen mistrust between the public and conservation authorities. 'These baboons are sentient, social beings. What we're witnessing is a systematic breakdown of their social structures and territories. Removing them without trying everything else first is unethical and unacceptable.'
He also noted the broader implications for environmental governance.
'This is about more than baboons. It's about transparency, accountability, and the right of communities to have a say in decisions that affect their environment.'
The protest follows weeks of tension after reports surfaced of baboons being shot with pellet guns in residential areas. Although the City has denied issuing culling permits, the lack of clarity over the future of the troops has intensified concern. Residents say they fear a quiet removal process is already under way.
Authorities have not yet responded to the memorandum, which includes a request for a moratorium on all removals until a full public consultation process is conducted. Protesters gave the task team ten working days to reply.
The City, CapeNature and SANParks have all previously stated that their approach prioritises both human and animal safety, and that removal is only considered when no other measures have succeeded.
But activists remain unconvinced. 'If there's still more that can be done, then do it,' Trethowan said. 'Don't give up on co-existence just because it's hard.'
The memorandum was accepted by a Joint Task Team official.
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Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
