Durban residents on the lookout for a juvenile baboon on the loose

The baboon on the loose and seen roaming in the Umbilo and Glenwood areas in Durban might not have been sent by witches, but could be a stowaway.

Or, it could have escaped from the Durban muthi market, those were the theories that local officials from Monkey Helpline were mulling over.

Conservationists were concerned about the well-being of the animal and were eager to track the baboon that has been running scared through those areas.

Residents of Umbilo and Glenwood areas were asked to keep an eye out for the baboon that has mysteriously slipped into the region.

It is suspected that the juvenile baboon possibly hopped aboard a ship that travelled from Cape Town and later disembarked at the Durban harbour.

"It's just a little juvenile, so it's no threat to anybody. It will not hurt anyone," said Carol Booth, coordinator, rescuer and caregiver at the Monkey Helpline.  

She said, "There are people who believe in witchcraft, so they might think the baboon has been sent by witches. Which is not true."

The first sighting of the animal was apparently on a ship."

Booth explained: "We are not 100% sure if it came off the ship, but the first sighting was on a ship and those who saw it said that there was a ship in the harbour that had come from Cape Town and that perhaps it had come on that ship."

She further mentioned that animals sometimes sneak onto vessels as they dock, saying: "Wildlife hopping onboard vessels happens regularly."

However, there is another theory.

Booth said: "It is possible that this baboon is an escapee from the Durban Muthi Market. Considering it's so close to the other three vervets that we just caught as well, it is possible that they are escapees from the Durban Muthi Market."

According to the reports Monkey Helpline received, the baboon was scared and was seen darting around the area.

"Every half an hour someone spots it and lets us know, but the baboon moves so quickly," Booth explained.

Her team, along with the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), is trying to track the baboon’s movements.

"We were told that he is in a warehouse, so we are hoping they will be able to track him there."

Once the baboon is safely rescued, the plan is for it to be taken to CROW.

Booth explained, “We just want it to be caught and safely put somewhere where it can be with its own kind. If it did come from Cape Town, then it would probably have to go to CROW, because it needs to be integrated into a troop, and if they don't have baboons, then it will be sent to one of the bigger centres.”

Anyone who spots the baboon is encouraged to call Carol Booth at 082 411 5444 or 082 659 4711. 

*Additional reporting, Daily News Reporter