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The death of an alpha male baboon, killed after a permit was issued for its demise, has left residents and activists in the South Peninsula angry and “gutted”.
A few residents protested along Plateau Road, opposite Cape Point, on Sunday 31 July.
Jenni Trathowen, founder of the non-government organisation (NGO) Baboon Matters, said killing an animal has never solved any problems.
“It was a completely ridiculous thing to allow in this case, a healthy animal was killed.”
Trathowen claimed that the baboon from the Plateau Road troop was hunted and shot after a landowner applied for a permit to kill the baboon.
“A landowner, if listed as a farm, can apply for a permit to hunt a problem animal on her farm. Nobody else had a problem with the baboon, only this particular person.
“Killing an animal has never solved any problems. They started killing baboons in 2012 and in the period since over 80 baboons has already been killed. We had requested a moratorium from authorities and we thought we could trust them but just days later this happened.
“Why did they (authorities) ignore the request for a moratorium?”
She added that both alpha males have now died which leaves their troop near Cape Point vulnerable.
“With too few people watching out for the troop, irate landowners got to call the shots, and it seems they literally did call the shots; Julius was killed in terms of legally issued permits.
“A so called ‘problem’ baboon killed by problematic people under frustratingly problematic protocols.”
Chantal Carstens-Luyt, an activist and resident who had many encounters with the troop, said she was completely gutted that the baboon was killed.
“I am absolutely gutted they did not take into account the dynamics of the troop. I don’t think there was enough investigations into whether he was problematic; did they take enough precautions and I think a lot could have been done.”
Carstens-Luyt added that she and her family always practiced tight waste management when they lived in the area.
“I have always been very strict with my interaction with the troop, I used to watch the troop a lot and I used to keep my eyes on them.
“They were a lovely troop. With us we practiced tight waste management, we secured the house the best we could, we put our dogs inside so there were no issues and we definitely played our part.
“The last time I counted the troop they were sitting at 23.”
She added that the alpha female of the troop also disappeared late last year.
“The alpha female also just disappeared from the face of the earth; no-one knows what happened to her. I had to leave two months ago, I’m now in the Fish Hoek valley area and it’s very concerning that this has now taken place. I feel heartbroken.”
The troop has been left with one juvenile males.
“Bandit has a deformed arm which will be to his detriment should a dispersing male from outside come in and try to challenge him. Not only is he too young but also disabled and he will try to protect his troop,” said Carstens-Luyt.
