Hijacked... by baboons
16/03/2009 14:24 - (SA)



Cape Town - A shrewd troop of baboons caused havoc in the Cape Peninsula over the weekend when they hijacked motorists' cars to get at picnic food, the Cape Times reported on Monday.

Tourists feeding the primates are being blamed for the behaviour, as curious motorists stopping to watch the baboons fell prey to their antics, causing a huge backup of cars on a coastal road.

The newspaper reported that a group of American tourists got out of their car to photograph the animals, and their children tried to pet them, when several members of the troop jumped into their car and started eating their food.

A large male baboon also accessed a separate car through an open window, removing food from the cubbyhole.

Tour operators exacerbated the problem by throwing food to baboons to provide perfect picture opportunities for their clients, the newspaper said.

Environmental groups have met with local officials to determine whose responsibility it was to manage the baboon populations, amid fears the animals might hurt someone, a spokesperson for CapeNature told the paper.

"We say the responsibility for managing so-called problem animals is the responsibility of the landowner or the manager of the land but... we're having a meeting at the end of the month to see if we can't resolve this," said spokesperson Fanie Bekker.

"We will also be holding a baboon summit soon."

Baboon harassment occurs frequently in the area, where humans feed the animals despite road signs warning them not to.

- SAPA

"We will also be holding a baboon summit soon."

can't waite to blast few baboons
pasting these ugly critters is way to much fun

I am not one to condone cruelty to animals, but how funny would it be to mace one of these guys as he tried to get in your car.

Priceless.

Baboons are smart. You shoot a couple and the problem is solved.

No need for a "Summit"

Better yet, Wendell, pull out a .45 and put a bullet in his chest or between his eyes as he reaches out to grab your goods. The only summit they need is an AR baboon shooting summit.

Wendell i pepper sprayed a vervet monkey and all it did was walk away! I thought it would have worked better than it did. IMHO copper & lead will work better. In the Kruger park they regularly (secretly) shoot problem baboons and monkeys with silenced rifles, that is the only real option.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott450:
In the Kruger park they regularly (secretly) shoot problem baboons and monkeys with silenced rifles, that is the only real option.

And that is exactly what they should be doing in Mana Pools, then maybe the guinea fowl and francolin etc would return...