Latest news with #CPBMJTT
The South African
20-07-2025
- General
- The South African
Animal activists reject bid to remove baboon troops from Cape Peninsula
A group of animal activists in the Western Cape is opposing a bid to remove several baboon troops from around the 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.
Daily Maverick
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Call to halt proposed removal of Cape Peninsula baboons a rallying cry for a more compassionate approach
A letter by the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa to the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team highlights several critical issues with the task team's approach, including legal and ethical violations. The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA), supported by 34 animal welfare and protection organisations, has issued a strongly worded cease-and-desist letter to the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) regarding its controversial proposal to remove baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula. The proposal, which includes options such as translocation, sanctuary placement and euthanasia, has been met with fierce opposition from conservationists, animal welfare groups and community organisations. Violent management practices The CPBMJTT claims that baboon welfare has regressed due to increased population pressure, limited access to natural foraging areas and escalating human-baboon conflict. The task team has proposed the removal of five splinter baboon troops, citing concerns over resource availability and troop health. However, WAPFSA and other stakeholders argue that these issues stem from human behaviour, urban development and violent management practices, rather than the baboons themselves. WAPFSA's letter highlights several critical issues with the CPBMJTT's approach. Chief among them have been the ongoing violent management practices. The use of paintball guns and other aversion techniques has been criticised as cruel and ineffective. These methods have allegedly encouraged some residents to take up arms, leading to injuries and deaths among baboons. The letter also points out that there are legal and ethical violations. The proposal contradicts South Africa's constitutional guarantees of environmental wellbeing and the precautionary principle outlined in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA). Also, no comprehensive census or analysis of baboon populations has been conducted, raising concerns about the sustainability of the species in the Western Cape and indicating a scientific gap in the process. Ethical considerations Baboons are complex agentic beings, analogous to humans. They have the capacity to suffer, share a common evolutionary and biological history, have their own unique cultures and form their own sovereign communities. Studies clearly show that baboons have rich inner lives, including languages and cultures, and recent work in political philosophy shows that they not only form their own communities, but often actively co-shape communities, habitats and relations with humans. WAPFSA stated: 'The notion of flourishing, when it comes to non-human primates, does not necessarily mean 'in a strictly natural setting', as is the case with many other wild animals. Baboons are to adapt and flourish in urban or quasi-urban settings and thrive in anthropogenically modified habitats.' The organisation says that 'when it comes to issues of management strategies, baboons warrant a very different approach from the one currently carried out by the CPBMJTT'. They maintain that 'ecologists and government agencies must urgently gain a fundamental understanding of wild animal welfare and wellbeing and the negative effects that their current interventions have'. And finally, the group has accused the task team of a distinct lack of consultation. Stakeholders, including animal welfare organisations and community groups, were not meaningfully consulted. The Baboon Advisory Group (BAG), established to foster collaboration, has reportedly been sidelined, with decisions presented as a fait accompli. Francesca de Gasparis, from the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (Safcei), who are members of both WAPFSA and BAG, says: 'This response from so-called experts and the powers that be shows a profound lack of understanding of the important role baboons play in the functioning of our fynbos ecosystem, and as a flagship species of Cape Town loved by tourists and residents alike.' WAPFSA has thus called for the CPBMJTT to cease all plans to remove baboons from the Cape Peninsula. The group wants the task team to reform outdated management policies to align with ethical and legal standards and to implement non-lethal mitigation measures, such as baboon-proof bins and signs as well as to engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders. Currently, management practices tend to exclude expert consultation from animal welfare and social scientists. Coexistence success story The letter shows that successful non-lethal management initiatives by community organisations, such as the Green Group Simonstown, have demonstrated these effective methods for human-baboon coexistence. Green Group Simonstown initiated a community-funded pilot project aimed at safeguarding the baboon troops around Simon's Town while also addressing and protecting human interests. The organisation has focused on reducing food attractants and, via the use of monitors, increasing baboon safety. Their goal was to implement alternative baboon management strategies that would set a precedent for compassionate conservation and prompt a reassessment of current practices. The results have shown significant behavioural improvements. The baboons spent most of their time on the mountain, displaying calm and cohesive behaviour. When they enter urban areas, they prefer natural forage over human waste. This positive change has been achieved without using aggressive deterrents, relying instead on a holistic approach and constant monitoring, leading the troop to settle in natural spaces with minimal incursions into developed areas. This positive outcome demonstrated the effectiveness of Green Group Simonstown's innovative strategy, which challenges the current practices and emphasises education, waste management and compassionate monitoring, offering a blueprint for sustainable baboon management. Broader implications The proposed removal of baboons has sparked wider concerns about human-wildlife conflict and the ethical treatment of sentient beings. WAPFSA argues that baboons, as complex and agentic beings, deserve respect and protection. The organisation calls for a shift towards harmonious multi-species coexistence, emphasising the ecological and cultural importance of baboons in the Western Cape. WAPFSA's letter serves as a rallying cry for conservationists, animal welfare advocates and concerned citizens to demand a more compassionate and scientifically informed approach to baboon management. The organisation warns that failure to address these concerns could lead to litigation and further harm to both baboons and human communities. As the debate about baboon management intensifies, the spotlight is on the CPBMJTT to reconsider its strategies and prioritise coexistence over conflict. The future of the Cape Peninsula's baboons – and the integrity of South Africa's conservation policies – hangs in the balance. DM Dr Adam Cruise is an investigative environmental journalist, travel writer and academic. He has contributed to a number of international publications, including National Geographic and The Guardian, covering diverse topics from the plight of elephants, rhinos and lions in Africa, to coral reef rejuvenation in Indonesia. Cruise is a doctor of philosophy, specialising in animal and environmental ethics, and is the editor of the online Journal of African Elephants.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Baboons or bureaucracy? Uproar over Cape Peninsula's suggested plan to remove 121 Baboons
A review process is under way for the proposed removal of several baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula, prompting public concern and calls for further consultation. Image: Barry Wood A major conservation controversy is brewing in the Western Cape after authorities announced plans to remove five baboon groups from the Cape Peninsula—representing approximately a quarter of the region's managed baboon population. The proposal was disclosed following the latest meeting of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), a multi-agency task force comprising SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town. The Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group (CPBAG), a civic advisory body of residents' associations and conservation organisations, was also in attendance. The affected groups and their most recent recorded numbers from June 2024 are: Waterfall troop, Simon's Town – 42 baboons Seaforth troop, Simon's Town – 16 baboons CT1 troop, Constantia – 41 baboons CT2 troop, Constantia – 18 baboons Da Gama 'Creamies', Glencairn – 4 baboons Together, the groups account for 121 baboons out of an estimated 490 living on the Peninsula. According to the CPBMJTT, the proposal stems from a combination of factors: the troops' limited access to natural habitat, poor welfare conditions, and a significant increase in conflict with residents. In many cases, the baboons are heavily urbanised, injured by human interaction, or increasingly dependent on unnatural food sources. In some areas, rangers have had little success keeping the animals out of residential zones. While the decision has not been finalised, the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) called the proposals 'deeply shocking', despite having anticipated such a move. 'To remove—most likely by killing—a quarter of the Cape Peninsula's managed baboon population raises serious ethical dilemmas,' said CPCC chairperson Lynda Silk. 'Our community and members are reeling at this news.' During the CPBAG meeting it was reportedly said that humane killing may result in the 'best outcomes in terms of ethics and welfare.' Other options being considered include translocation to a sanctuary or rewilding elsewhere. Final decisions are due after expert review, with feedback from CPBAG expected by mid-June. The Creamies, referred to as the Da Gama 4, are up for removal. Image: Debra Coull Further controversy surrounds a proposed shortening of the tolerance period for dispersing males, who may be euthanised if they fail to integrate into existing troops quickly. A contraception trial is also under consideration for northern subpopulations, though such programmes have not previously been used in wild baboon populations and remain socially contentious. The CPCC urged residents and stakeholders to investigate, question, and give feedback. According to the CPBMJTT, the targeted troops face ongoing welfare risks due to limited access to natural habitat and increasing reliance on urban areas. The Seaforth troop is also said to pose a threat to the endangered African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Meanwhile, the Cape Baboon Partnership, which took over field operations in March, continues managing ranger teams, the Baboon Hotline, and community liaison. Baboon-proof bins are expected to be rolled out by January 2026. For Jenni Trethowan of Baboon Matters, a long-time advocate for coexistence, the excuse as to why it's taken so long to have the bins rolled out is inexcusable. She criticised the authorities' failure to implement basic mitigation measures. 'After 26 years, there are still no baboon-proof bins. The new service provider says they 'underestimated how strong baboons are'—it's simply inexcusable,' she said.
