Latest news with #CapePeninsulaBaboonManagementJointTaskTeam
IOL News
15 hours ago
- General
- IOL News
Outrage over baboon removal plan: Activists voice concerns
Plans are afoot for the removal of several baboon troops due to limited resources and human conflict. Image: File Baboon rights activists have expressed outrage and shock at the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team's Strategic Management Plan, which proposes the removal of five splinter troops, claiming hundreds of animals could be affected. The task team last week presented the proposed action plan for the Cape Peninsula baboon, which includes the proposed removal of five splinter troops - CT1, CT2, Waterfall, Seaforth and Da Gama4, due to limited natural resources, human conflict, and poor welfare. The plan will be reviewed by experts and the Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group by mid-June. Removal options include translocation, sanctuaries, humane euthanasia, or a combination. The process and outcomes will be made public. The Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation, a community engaged and representative body, said the plans would affect population numbers. 'To remove, most likely by killing, a quarter of the Cape Peninsula's managed baboon population is deeply shocking,' said conservation chairperson, Lynda Silk. "Even though we expected an announcement along these lines for some time, our community and members are reeling. "There is so much to consider in the impacts of this action and the possible alternatives. "We cannot respond fully without giving this time to investigate, to feel and to consider deeply.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The conservation said approximately 120 of the 490 baboons on the Cape Peninsula could possibly be killed. 'There are a lot of questions and serious ethical dilemmas that this raises and need to be seriously investigated. The details of how these approximately 120 baboons in total will practically be 'removed' are still to be confirmed. They might go to a sanctuary or they may be killed. 'One can imagine that whether baboons will be killed or relocated to an enclosed sanctuary, the practicality of removing them will be extremely complex. "Baboons are intelligent, and often difficult to trap or dart even in single numbers. "We have watched vets attempting to dart a single baboon and having to give up and walk away when time ran out. "How will those involved manage to capture or to kill a full troop of more than 40 baboons (Waterfall and CT1) in one go?" Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. The organisation said the plan would have a ripple effect. 'We expect to see an increasing number of people breaking the law in attempts to harm baboons as it seems authorities give up on them, and we're also expecting to see others breaking the law in desperate attempts to save baboons." The task team said the welfare of the Cape Peninsula baboon troops has severely regressed in the past three years, while the population increased, putting pressure on available resources. 'It is proposed that five splinter troops be removed from the Cape Peninsula as these troops have limited access to low-lying natural land with plants of high nutritional value for foraging; the low-lying areas are too small to sustain them; rangers have very little success in keeping the baboons out of the urban areas leading to an over-reliance on aversion techniques; the health and welfare of the troops are severely compromised; and escalating conflict between baboons and residents is being recorded," they said. Cape Argus
IOL News
4 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Task team outlines innovative approaches to Baboon management
Beloved baboon "Blondie", shot dead. Image: Supplied The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team has outlined its progress and plans for managing baboons along the Peninsula. The update was shared with the Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group at their second official meeting, held on Tuesday. The task team, which includes representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, said in a joint statement that members of the Shark Spotters have taken on some of the day-to-day baboon management tasks under the Cape Baboon Partnership. Since March 2025, the Shark Spotters have been providing baboon rangers, running the baboon hotline, and leading community education and outreach efforts. The advisory group is made up of representatives from local communities, civic associations, conservation groups, academic institutions, and animal welfare organisations with an interest in baboon management on the Cape Peninsula. In the statement, several challenges currently facing baboon management were outlined, including 'increasing human-baboon conflict and poor welfare among some troops.' The task team stated that their proposed action plan, part of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan, aims to 'maintain a healthy, free-ranging baboon population in natural areas, with input from affected communities on local solutions". As part of this plan, the task team has proposed removing five splinter troops from the Peninsula due to 'limited access to natural foraging areas, poor troop health, and frequent human-wildlife conflicts". The five splinter troops under review include CT1 and CT2, located north of Constantia Nek; Waterfall and Seaforth, which are splinter troops from Smitswinkel; and Da Gama4, active in and around Welcome Glen and Glencairn. Options for their removal include rewilding through translocation, relocation to existing or new sanctuaries, humane euthanasia, or a combination of these. The plan will be reviewed by a panel of international and local experts and shared by mid-June. The task team is also exploring infrastructure improvements, including a northern fence to prevent troop movement over Constantia Nek, and a separate fence to help keep the Slangkop troop out of Kommetjie, Ocean View, and surrounding areas. Academic institutions are being consulted on a potential contraception trial for the northern subpopulation of baboons, which has a high annual growth rate of around 8%. Residents are encouraged to visit for information and updates. Summary reports on each troop - covering their health, movements, and numbers - are expected to be available on the site by mid-June. Cape Argus
