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A photo captured on Monday 15 July of four baboons days after one of their troop mates was euthanised.PHOTO: Lorraine Ingram
The euthanasia of three baboons in the South Peninsula has caused an outcry among animal rights activists and local residents. Non-profit organisations and community members held a memorial vigil to honor the baboons and discuss measures to prevent such incidents. The task team responsible for the euthanasia defended their decision as part of approved management guidelines.The euthanasia of three baboons in the South Peninsula has sparked an outcry among animal rights activists.
Non-profit organisation (NPO) Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) chair Lynda Silk described the “killing” of the baboons as shocking.
“The death of Creamy together with the killing by authorities of two other healthy adult male baboons, Jody and Junior from two nearby troops, has brought a wave of shock, grief and outrage from Peninsula residents and even from around the country.”
‘Disappearing’ baboonsSilk added that residents noted the disappearance of the baboons two weeks ago.
“By Wednesday last week, there was deep concern that no residents had seen Creamy, although the others of his group were still being seen. We subsequently became aware that baboons from other troops were also missing.”
She accused the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) of wasting no time in using a management style that does not have the full support of the public.
“There was about a decade when adult male baboons of the Cape Peninsula were regularly killed by authorities, for being classed as raiding males and simultaneously it was acknowledged that almost all adult male baboons in the Peninsula, if they lived long enough, would be classified as raiding males.”
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According to Silk, the term “raiding” is applied anthropomorphically, ascribing human intentions to natural animal behaviour in foraging animals.
“It is not right that baboons get a death sentence for eating from unsecured bins or homes when we, the supposedly more intelligent species, have no consequence for making such opportunities available.”
“It is not right that baboons get a death sentence for eating from unsecured bins or homes when we, the supposedly more intelligent species, have no consequence for making such opportunities available.”
She however conceded that the baboons entered houses and areas where people were unaccustomed to the presence of baboons.
“I did everything I possibly could to minimise that happening, working day and night to set up separate baboon alerts groups for areas the group moved through across the peninsula, so that people could be aware in advance and close up their houses, and in the initial stages of the journey,” said Silk.
MemorialOn Sunday 28 July, a memorial vigil with representatives from Beauty Without Cruelty together with residents from Da Gama Park, Welcome Glen, Simon’s Town, Muizenberg, and Fish Hoek was held at Surfers Corner.
The one-hour memorial focused on honouring the baboons and brainstorming ways to amplify the message against their killings.
Beauty Without Cruelty chair Toni Brockhoven said it was time for people to take responsibility and accountability for their actions.
“We, collectively, should hang our heads in shame,” she said. “Property and garden damage and the violence towards baboons will continue as long as humans refuse to be responsible and accountable.”
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Brockhoven criticised authorities for their inability to ensure effective waste management solutions.
“We use the term urban foraging, as that is what it is, and as long as the citizenry and the powers refuse to ensure effective waste management solutions, along with other measures discussed over and over, the baboons will be the losers in all of this.”
At the vigil participants, who included six children with personal connections to the baboons, pledged to protect and respect baboons.
EuthanisedMeanwhile, the CPBMJTT confirmed last week that the three baboons in question were indeed euthanised.
“Three raiding baboons were euthanised over the past four weeks following deliberation,” the statement read. “The decision followed upon an assessment of the case histories of the three raiding baboons from the Waterfall, Da Gama, and Smitswinkel troops.”
“The CPBMJTT accepts that not all residents or stakeholders will be in support of such decisions.”
The task team added that the intervention was in line with approved and adopted baboon management guidelines.
“The CPBMJTT accepts that not all residents or stakeholders will be in support of such decisions.
“However, the CPBMJTT is confident that these decisions, although difficult, are robust, rational and based on the best available information and scientific advice.”
According to the CPBMJTT, euthanasia is one of several tools which can be utilised as set out in the baboon management guidelines. “The task team is guided by the baboon management guidelines and will implement these as and when needed.”
While the task team confirmed that the three baboons had been euthanised, they failed to answer what a raiding baboon is.
Concerning the “case history” of the baboons as mentioned in its comment, they failed to answer how often the raids occurred and what method of euthanasia was used.
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