Residents from the southern side of Cape Town will have a break from baboon chaos in the month of December. Photo from Baboon Matters Facebook page
SHARK hunters to fight baboons.
The City of Cape Town has roped in Shark Spotters to help manage baboons that wreak havoc in the southern part of the Mother City.
Residents from the mountainous areas, including Fishhoek, Da Gama Park, Muizenberg and others, have been struggling with baboons raiding their homes when they are away.
On Friday, 20 December, Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature and the City of Cape Town announced that the city and Shark Spotters have signed a memorandum of agreement.
SANParks and CapeNature are already initiating their discussions with Shark Spotters who will help with the implementation of the Baboon Strategic Management Plan on the Cape Peninsula.
The memorandum of agreement, among other things, requires Shark Spotters to ensure employment of a field manager and baboon ranger services for stipulated baboon troops from sunrise to sunset.
Shark Spotters will take over management of baboons around the City of Cape Town. Photo by Misheck Makora
In terms of the agreement, Shark Spotters are also expected to help roll out an infrastructure programme to establish hard boundaries between natural areas and the urban environment where suitable.
The organisation is also expected to implement a baboon population research programme and employ a baboon researcher. In return, the city is committed to contributing R9 million in grant funding to Shark Spotters in the current financial year, R12 million in 2025/26 and R12 million in 2026/27.
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Residents said they have been tormented by baboons for the past four years entering their homes as well as scavenging in their bins for food. In August 2024, baboons raided Kommetjie Eco Pre-Primary for three consecutive days, stealing kids’ lunchboxes.
Shark Spotters CEO Sarah Waries said the baboon management programme will operate as a separate division within Shark Spotters and won’t impact the organisation’s ongoing efforts.
“We recognise that the road ahead won’t be easy, but with a transparent and collaborative approach, we hope to usher in a more positive era of baboon management that improves conditions for baboons and communities,” Waries said.
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