South Africa: Baboons Go on Carnage
10 June 2009


Two baboon crashed through the roof of a Constantia home, leaving two children and their child minder traumatised after they hid from the animals under a table for an hour-and-a-half.

And a witness has reported "ongoing carnage" in the Constantia area where two big troops have been for the past week or so, and where at least three of the baboons have been knocked down by cars and injured, one fatally.

Linda Lurie, the graphic designer whose house the baboons fell into, said a baboon troop of about 50 to 60 strong had been in a field alongside her home for a few days before that. Her house adjoins the Groot Constantia vineyards.

Then, on Monday afternoon, she took her son to a rugby match at Reddam House school, leaving her two youngsters Joel, 4, and Hannah, 6, in the care of their child minder.

"The baboons were using our house as a bit of a jungle gym," she explained. "Some of the animals had been jumping up and down on a section of Perspex roof when it broke, sending two of the baboons crashing through and into a bath.

"The nanny, who is terrified of baboons, heard this big bang. She ran and grabbed the kids and then they hid under the table," Lurie said.

While the baboons inside made the most of their opportunity by raiding the kitchen for food, the animals outside had found a large bin which also contained edible items.

"The baboons were very excited to find food and it became one big picnic area," said Lurie.

"Half of them were lying around sunning themselves, the other half were eating all the food; it was a full-blown party."

Fortunately for the small group trapped under the table, the phone rang. The child minder crept out to answer it and asked the caller to contact her employer.

On her arrival Lurie found award-winning filmmaker Trevor de Kock, who is shooting footage for a film about the Peninsula's baboons, and a volunteer baboon monitor at the scene, although they weren't aware of the drama inside the house. De Kock then escorted Lurie inside.

"He was very helpful; his assistance was wonderful. If he hadn't been here, I probably would have had a heart attack.

"There was a 'team' (of baboons) at each entrance, doing their thing, and I just wanted to get my kids out," she said.

"He showed me that you just go in, greet the baboons and then walk through as though nothing is wrong."

Lurie said she had carried the children out, and then helped the terrified child minder out too.

"She didn't even want to come to work today."

Her husband had worked until close to midnight to repair the damaged roof, she added.


De Kock, who lives in Nova Constantia, said on Tuesday that two of the four Tokai troops numbering about 45 and 60 animals respectively, had been "running amok" in different parts of Constantia.

"I've never seen them this close to my home before. And today (Tuesday) they've smashed a big cement water feature and damaged a house. They're acting like hooligans here in suburbia, and electric fences are no problem for them. And there's a bit of fighting going on which doesn't help matters."

Despite the efforts of the volunteer monitors, who had been working in terrible weather at times, there had been "carnage" on the roads, De Kock added.

"Guys just don't slow down. There's nothing sadder than seeing a critically injured baby baboon being picked up by its mother."

Nothing a couple 12 GA autos and a pallet of buckshot wouldn't fix ...

I wouldn't slow down either. And, I agree on the 12 gauges and pallet of buckshot.

I asked my PH one day what baboons were good for from an ecological standpoint. His answer was, "To vex people"! I agree with the buckshot cure.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:

"He showed me that you just go in, greet the baboons and then walk through as though nothing is wrong."

Other than using a 12ga with buckshot, how would one "greet" a baboon?

I think he moons 'em. I'll stick with the 12 ga.

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
Nothing a couple 12 GA autos and a pallet of buckshot wouldn't fix ...

.

Just kill em all HUH Mac ?????????????

quote:

Originally posted by gumboot458:

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
Nothing a couple 12 GA autos and a pallet of buckshot wouldn't fix ...

.

Just kill em all HUH Mac ?????????????

Baboon = Varmint

quote:

Originally posted by Masterifleman:
I asked my PH one day what baboons were good for from an ecological standpoint. His answer was, "To vex people"! I agree with the buckshot cure.

Baboon feces makes up a significant portion of ostrich diets in some areas. Of course, that begs the question, "What are ostriches good for"? (And also diminishes any interest you might have otherwise had in eating ostrich eggs or meat.)

Stonecreek
You are a wealth of information I could do without. I gotta check what my neighbors emus are eating before I buy another one. He has Newfoundlands as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Mikelravy:
Stonecreek
You are a wealth of information I could do without. I gotta check what my neighbors emus are eating before I buy another one. He has Newfoundlands as well.

You might ask what he feeds his Newfies too ...

I loved Capstick's story, "The Killer Baboons of Vlackfontein."

Another possible solution made doubly cool because it involves automatic weapons and fire!!

quote:

Originally posted by Macifej:
Nothing a couple 12 GA autos and a pallet of buckshot wouldn't fix ...

Might work for a while Mac, but the miserable bastards wise up quick.........then they would be constantly out of range of a 12 gauge (which isn't exactly a safe weapon around the suburbs anyway)

Hard situation to solve............because of the number of people in the area.............

Then I'd send a 100 pack of Catahoulas to drive em into range ... they'd rather be shot up then stand against Catahoulas ...

Hey, just when they think that the old 12 ga is ineffective, you can just step up with the 300 WSM or some other lethal weapon and take out all of the leaders!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Hey, just when they think that the old 12 ga is ineffective, you can just step up with the 300 WSM or some other lethal weapon and take out all of the leaders!