Residents told to man the fort: baboon season is back
As the effects of winter set in and natural food sources for animals become scarcer, reports of baboons and monkeys foraging in residential areas have increased. George Ward 18 Councillor Jannie van der Westhuizen says he has been receiving constant phone calls regarding baboons wreaking havoc in neighbourhoods in his ward. “I met with Protection Services Director Steven Erasmus and the municipality’s baboon monitors. We have discussed possible solutions and I have been assured that everything possible is being done to improve the current situation.” Erasmus said the municipality and CapeNature have been working together for years to address aspects of baboon management, but residents in affected areas also have a major role to play and neighbours should work together to reduce access to possible food sources.
“It may be inconvenient and feel unfair, but baboons and monkeys are a reality in a city surrounded by primates’ natural habitat and humans must adapt also.” The trick is to give baboons no reason to enter your property, which means no visible or accessible sources of food:
Keep dustbins locked, caged in or locked away.
Secure sliding doors, using something like burglar proofing bolts, so that baboons cannot gain access.
Keep windows and doors shut, especially when leaving the house and/or when troops are in the vicinity.
Incidents can be reported at:
George municipality’s baboon management department: 044 801 6350 / 044 801 6300 (after hours).
George municipality’s cleansing department: 044 802 2900
CapeNature conservation services: 044 802 5300.