We'll shoot baboons, say angry residents
John Yeld
June 05 2006 at 08:00PM

Some residents of the "four villages" area - Pringle Bay, Rooi Els, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond - are threatening to shoot and poison baboons unless entire troops are relocated.

The renewed controversy comes amid confirmed reports that baboons in this area have learnt to remove aluminium sliding doors from their tracks by bending the frames until the glass breaks and then pulling the doors out.

But CapeNature has ruled out any such move and has repeated its argument that residents must learn to reduce the baboon problem by dealing properly with their garbage and by taking simple precautions in their homes.


The four villages adjoin the proclaimed Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve - the first such United Nations-sanctioned reserve of its kind in South Africa.

Chris Burlock of the Biosphere Reserve Action Group (Brag) brought the issue to the attention of CapeNature.

"The situation is no longer one of baboons opportunistically sneaking through an open window - they are now breaking windows and sliding glass doors by pulling at the frames until the glass breaks, or they are removing sliding doors from their tracks," she said.

"Reports of such damage are made almost daily."

"Fuelled by the increasing incidences of break-ins and then the Kogel Bay incident (in which a young boy was injured during a baboon fight), Brag is getting very angry phone calls from some members of the Rooi Els community, and we know of baboons being shot."

Burlock said she believed people had to suitably baboon-proof their houses.

But until CapeNature went on record as saying that moving baboon troops was not an option, some residents would continue to insist on this as a solution, "instead of focusing on taking responsibility for baboon-proofing their homes".

"Of course some may resort to shooting or poisoning out of frustration... this is already happening."

CapeNature specialist scientist Peter Lloyd, replying in his personal capacity, told Burlock the basic cause of almost all conflict situations between humans and baboons was inefficient waste management, "apart from ignorance on the part of the humans".

"Refuse or garbage that is not securely packaged in a baboon-proof dustbin is always going to be discovered by any baboons present in a given area because they are opportunistic feeders with 'reconnaissance teams' or 'lieutenants' continually exploring the surroundings for available resources to share with the rest of the troop," he said.

"If a dwelling has any weak structures such as flimsy or relatively loosely-fitting aluminium doors, open windows and unsecured outhouses, they are going to discover them."

Ensuring that such opportunities are not available to the baboons usually solved the problem far better than removing or translocating individual animals, or "worse still", entire troops, Lloyd said.

"It pays to think like a baboon and once you have removed the possibilities for exploitation, the problem usually resolves itself."

Lloyd's comments were subsequently officially confirmed by Kas Hamman, CapeNature's director of biodiversity, who told Burlock that his organisation "fully supported" Lloyd.

"We are definitely not in favour of the translocation of baboons - such measures are not effective.

"These problems can be managed, as he correctly pointed out."

"But, as you know, you do need maximum co-operation and buy-in from the public in the area.

"You are 100 percent correct: the solution lies in taking responsibility for baboon-proofing private homes and in the effective management of waste."

Burlock said people wanting the troops moved claimed that an operation to this effect had worked in the Augrabies Falls camp about a decade ago.

"But as far as we have read, what really succeeded were notices saying that anyone feeding a baboon would be forced to watch that baboon being shot!

"Having actually done that on a couple of occasions, the public got the message!"

"The sooner people realise that the relocation option must be crossed off the list, the sooner we can perhaps get them to realise they need to adapt their homes and lives to live with baboons."

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on June 05, 2006

quote:

It pays to think like a baboon

Now there's a phrase you're unlikely to hear every day....

I on the other hand do this each and every day with very little effort

I have the solution to this problem, being a veteran Baboon hunter, tell the 4 villages that I will be more then happy to go there and take out all the "problem" Baboons for them. All they have to do is pay my expenses, I'll be a hired BCO (Baboon Control Officer).

Or "...the solution lies in taking responsibility for baboon-proofing private homes..."
Now I would say that having a pistol and taking care of the problem with a bullet is certainly one solid way of baboon-proofing any private home.
Widowmaker: I'll join you as a BCO!

Widowmaker416,
YOu and I would make a great baboon eradication team. I have a particular dislike to their surly attitude and take great pleasure in seeing the look on a baboon's face when he gets a little .375" hole in his torso.

Sign me up for duty, sir...

Where do i sign up for BCO duties? great 30-06 practice..... just bring lots of ammo and a deck chair.

i find the "anyone caught feeding a baboon will be forced to watch it being shot" hilarious.... couldn't it be "amended to anyone feeding a baboon will have to shoot said baboon"? thereby ensuring that you have to bait the johns

I actually saw an elderly tourist get mugged by a troop at the top of capepoint where the lighthouse is. I felt really bad for him...as it was a shocking incident which for some with heart conditions maybe deadly.

anyhow, count me in I am a bona fide baboon hunter!

Trapmonkey,
Don't be a baboon hunter - be a baboon 'shooter'.

Got to raise the bar on you - if you want "in", as a baboon eradicator, you got to be committed.

BCOs! Need your services. I have students attending one of the colleges at which I teach, that act like baboons...but only have half the intelligence.

prof242,
Can't help you, but I suggest using the appropriate "bait" to get your baboons to perform...

Usually something like actual doing their own homework, not plagerizing reports - you know, stuff like that...

Also, do not curve your tests. An old prof of mine once said that if he curved grades, then monkeys could make A's and he did not believe in giving monkey's A's.

That will get their attention very quickly.

Funny thing -- after hunting in the east cape, we went to a business meeting at Franschoek, then moved to Capetown. During some free time, we went out to the Cape, and drove through a section of road with a bunch of baboons hanging out. I got some pics through the window.





Nothing like those I saw around the Kubusi River gorge (too far).

After coming home with these pics, I saw reports of them breaking into people's houses, etc... looks like a real problem.

Dan

Widowmaker I've read where you are a taxidermist tell me how you mount a baboon

Those baboons gave me the finger right after I drove by them. I saw them in the Eastern Cape, stopped the car, snuck back and they were up on the ridge looking down at me. Gave me a complex that I needed group therapy to overcome. Not over it yet, hence my desire to quit my job, go back to Africa and shoot baboons.....

Just take me with you, dogcat.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Alexander:

quote:

Originally posted by Widowmaker416:
I have the solution to this problem, being a veteran Baboon hunter, tell the 4 villages that I will be more then happy to go there and take out all the "problem" Baboons for them. All they have to do is pay my expenses, I'll be a hired BCO (Baboon Control Officer).

I'll go with Ron. There's nothing (cept buffalo) that I'd rather shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by Widowmaker416:
I have the solution to this problem, being a veteran Baboon hunter, tell the 4 villages that I will be more then happy to go there and take out all the "problem" Baboons for them. All they have to do is pay my expenses, I'll be a hired BCO (Baboon Control Officer).

[/QUOTE]

I'll go with Ron. There's nothing (cept buffalo) that I'd rather shoot.

[/QUOTE]

Is there a double rifle that works on baboons?

Yes - if two of us are shooting them at the same time - heh, heh, heh.....

quote:

Widowmaker I've read where you are a taxidermist tell me how you mount a baboon

jorgie, Don't you think your getting a little to personal now!

quote:

Originally posted by Widowmaker416:
I have the solution to this problem, being a veteran Baboon hunter, tell the 4 villages that I will be more then happy to go there and take out all the "problem" Baboons for them. All they have to do is pay my expenses, I'll be a hired BCO (Baboon Control Officer).

I'll go with Ron. There's nothing (cept buffalo) that I'd rather shoot.[/quote]

Let's go Jeff, I'm always ready to hunt Baboons! Ask Brent sometime!

I couldn't see all the pics. My screen isn't big enough.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ:
I couldn't see all the pics. My screen isn't big enough.

Horizontal scroll bar does it. I wanted to show off every hair and eyelash...

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by Widowmaker416:

quote:

Widowmaker I've read where you are a taxidermist tell me how you mount a baboon

jorgie, Don't you think your getting a little to personal now!

Widowmaker416 thanks for the email I just got to it this morning. So you thought I was him too You have mail.