Baboons are our Neighbours
We live in proximity to a troop of chacma baboons – known as the Smitswinkel Troop – who have been present on the mountain since time immemorial. In recent years they have become more habituated to the food they can find in our gardens¸ bins and kitchens. This change of behaviour, in part stimulated by the rapid growth of settlement in our/their area, means that we need to be alert to their visits and, at the same time, do everything we can to remove temptation from them.
Note: the baboons are not dangerous to humans, although adult males can be intimidating when intent on getting to a visible food source. They are a prey species, whereas dogs are a predator species, so it is not uncommon for a dog to go after a baboon, with mixed results, so dogs should be kept inside when the troop visits.
If there is a baboon in your house follow this guide.
The City of Cape Town has for a decade been running a baboon management programme, currently operated by the contractors NCC. It involves teams of rangers who track the troop’s movement during daylight hours and, using paintball guns, shepherd them back onto the mountain or down onto Main Rd and South towards their wilder habitat. They have varying success and the baboons learn fast.
Knowing when they are close by
Thanks to WhatsApp and specifically our MVN Baboon Alert group, the first residents to become aware that the troop is approaching our suburb can alert the rest of us.
What to do when you see baboons on or close to your property
- Check all doors and windows are closed and pets and children are inside.
- Notify the NCC Baboon Hotline – 071 588 6540
- Notify your neighbours via a short post on MVN Baboon Alert. E.g. “Troop at 15 Disa heading North. Monitors pushing them down to Main.” The latter point helps us to know which direction the monitors are attempting to drive the baboons, if that’s known, so we can avoid shooing them in an unhelpful direction. To join the Alert group contact Peter Willis on 0823782384.
- Often a hose or water pistol can move baboons along, as they seem to dislike being sprayed.
- Be aware that shooting, with pellets or even blanks, is illegal and should be reported to the Hotline if observed.
Securing your home
If you are new to the area you will find your neighbours have worked out a variety of cunning ways to keep baboons out of our homes, so do ask us. We also recommend watching this excellent explanatory video by Dr Joselyn Mormile, NCC director. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb_LWxGsasc&t=611s