The Western Cape's urban baboon problem has cost tens of millions of rands, with authorities struggling to find a solution. According to Professor M Justin O'Riain, director of the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa at the University of Cape Town, the only viable solution is the establishment of a secure sanctuary to protect the primates' welfare. This comes after years of failed attempts to deter the baboons from urban areas.
The issue was highlighted in 2007 when the Baboon Research Unit at UCT was called to Happy Valley Home in Simon's Town, where a troop of baboons was becoming increasingly assertive. The manager, Mrs Dolly, reported that the baboons were taking food out of people's hands and entering the dormitories in search of food. Despite efforts to baboon-proof doors and windows, the situation remained untenable, ultimately resulting in the death of an elderly man in 2010.
In 2009, a town hall meeting in Simon's Town was held to discuss the issue, with a strong anti-baboon sentiment prevailing. The CapeNature representative was asked to "catch the lot and truck them to the Overberg or further," a proposal that received significant applause. However, experts warned that culling or relocating the troop would not be effective, as they had become habituated to urban landscapes.
Between 2010 and 2026, authorities invested tens of millions of rands in non-lethal methods to deter the troop, including deploying rangers and new tools. However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as the baboons continued to return to urban areas, attracted by the high rewards of food. As a result, human-induced injuries and deaths have been common, with the troop suffering from poor health and injuries.
The impact of the baboons on residents has also been significant, with damaged cars and houses, stressed and injured dogs, and damaged gardens reported. Residents have also experienced anxiety and trauma associated with pending and previous baboon intrusions, leading to depreciation of property value and deep conflict among neighbors.
While some stakeholders have expressed concerns about the management of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes, experts have recommended a range of options, including fencing and culling. However, following stakeholder engagement, culling was rejected in favor of non-lethal options, and translocation was considered unviable due to a lack of suitable receiving environments.
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan and Action Plan have been finalized, with a focus on fencing to harden the urban edge or provide a sanctuary from anthropogenic impacts. The deciding variable for which fencing option would be applied to which troops was topography, with the goal of protecting both human and baboon welfare.
Key points
- Establishing a secure sanctuary is the most viable solution to manage the urban baboon problem in Western Cape.
- Authorities have invested tens of millions of rands in non-lethal methods to deter baboons from urban areas, but with limited success.
- The impact of baboons on residents has been significant, with damaged property, stressed animals, and trauma reported.
