Cape Town - A group of concerned ratepayers and residents of Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Rooi-Els will hold two separate demonstrations today and tomorrow over what they said was the cruel and unnecessary use of force against Chacma baboons in their areas.
The residents are demanding a systematic change to the baboon management protocols and for the termination of the Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) contract (a service provider managing baboons in the area) with the Overstrand Municipality.
They said the “killing” of “Scarface” from Betty’s Bay, and “Santana“ from the Pringle Bay troop by Overstrand Municipality and HWS was linked to the complete resistance by HWS and the municipality to have tried site-specific methods of management other than aggressive tactics.
Together4Change chairperson Murray McGregor said the patience of the residents and the ratepayers had run out and people are united to demand change.
“This didn’t start with the deaths of Scarface and Santana, but has been coming for several years and our communities are upset and grieving.
“Since the appointment of the HWS in the areas the standing of the OM had deteriorated, but as Together4Change we remain committed to working with the municipality to rebuild that trust and credibility. However, that will require them to acknowledge that the current baboon management programme is not working.
“We want to introduce a sustainable baboon management programme and we want them to embrace transparency with the communities and see our baboons as an asset of our unique biosphere,” he said.
Pringle Bay Rewilding chairperson Coco McGregor said prior to the arrival of HWS the area managed their baboons successfully for years with monitors employed by the Ratepayers’ Association, using funds collected from residents. McGregor said this shepherding team of monitors knew where the baboons were and gently followed them every day.
“Since HWS started managing the baboons in Pringle Bay, we have seen the management style change from one of gently shepherding the troop to an aggressive style of chasing the baboons, firing paintball indiscriminately, without any regard for the welfare of the baboons.
“Even the fynbos gets trampled underfoot in the chase. The monitors brought in from the Cape Peninsula seem to find the chasing of baboons a sport. They trespass on private property and in the nature reserve without any regard for endangered species or other fauna,” she said.
McGregor said waste management needed to be addressed, new residents made aware by estate agents that they live in a biosphere with animals in it that needed to be protected.
She said under no circumstances should baboons be targeted for killing in the biosphere.
Overstrand Municipality was approached for comment but failed to respond before publication.