Growing Concerns about Animal Cruelty as Plans to Relocate 4 Baboon Troops from Cape Peninsula Surface

Cape Town – The recent announcement by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) regarding the removal of four baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula has raised concerns about potential cruelty among animal lovers and activists.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in baboons rummaging through suburban homes, trash bins, gardens, restaurants, and hotels.

Such incursions often lead to baboons stealing food and causing significant property damage.

City officials have now decided to decrease the baboon population by “removing” them from the Cape Peninsula.

This proposed action has alarmed animal advocates and activists.

“The decision to remove, likely through euthanasia, a quarter of the managed baboon population in the Cape Peninsula is profoundly distressing,” stated Lynda Silk, chairperson of the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC), on Friday, 30 May 2025.

The imminent removal of four troops and a small group of baboons was announced by the CPBMJTT in a media release on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

“Though we expected an announcement of this nature, our community and members are in shock,” Silk remarked.

“Numerous factors need to be considered regarding the consequences of this action and potential alternatives.

“We cannot respond comprehensively without taking the necessary time to investigate and reflect.”

The CPCC warned that approximately 120 of the estimated 490 baboons on the Cape Peninsula could potentially be euthanized, as noted in the baboon troop count published in June 2024.

The civil conservation group emphasized that many questions and significant ethical dilemmas warrant thorough examination.

The specific methods for the “removal” of these approximately 120 baboons have yet to be determined, the CPCC stated.

“They may be relocated to a sanctuary or euthanized,” lamented the CPCC.

City of Cape Town’s Gregg Oelofse mentioned at the CP BAG meeting on 27 May 2025 that euthanizing the baboons would likely yield the “best outcomes” concerning ethical considerations and welfare.

“One must acknowledge that whether baboons are killed or relocated to a confined sanctuary, the complexities of their removal will be immense,” Silk noted.

“Baboons are intelligent and can be challenging to trap or dart even in small groups.

“We’ve seen veterinarians attempt to dart a single baboon, ultimately having to abandon the effort when time expired.

“How will those involved manage to capture or euthanize an entire troop of over 40 baboons (Waterfall and CT1) all at once?”

The CPCC argued that this “removal” process will undoubtedly be traumatic for these highly sentient creatures.

“It is likely to also distress neighboring communities,” the CPCC noted.

“As an organization advocating for calm, intelligent, and reasonable responses, we face an uncertain future unfolding in unimaginable ways over the coming months.

“We anticipate an increase in illegal activities as individuals attempt to harm baboons, while others may engage in unlawful means to protect them.

“As this situation evolves, we expect heightened tensions among neighbors in the affected communities, leading to potentially long-lasting effects.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of the rangers responsible for the impacted troops, particularly regarding their job stability and mental health.”

Worse yet, the CPCC highlighted that baboon rangers have experienced considerable stress over the past two years due to job uncertainty and survival challenges for their families.

With the prospect of these “removals” and growing job insecurity, rangers will face emotional challenges, according to the CPCC.

Morale among the rangers has already declined, as noted by Shark Spotters CEO Sarah Waries during the CP BAG meeting.

She mentioned payroll challenges and noted that rangers have been “weathering winter storms” without adequate protective clothing, while questioning when necessary health and safety PPE would be provided per the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

“We recognized that we were entering a new era of baboon management when Shark Spotters took responsibility for the program this year, along with the formation of ‘The Joint Task Team’ prior to that,” stated Waries.

“Both developments signaled a shift toward a more stringent approach to baboon management.

“What we are witnessing now is a working plan for a complete separation of humans and wildlife.

“This marks a significant change in Cape Town’s ethos. High, long-line electric fences will be erected to entirely separate humans from wildlife.”

The designation of Table Mountain National Park as an unfenced, open-access reserve amidst urban areas creates a unique relationship between urban spaces and the wild.

By nature and function, Cape Town exists as both a City within a Reserve and a Reserve within a City.

Cape Town had the opportunity to pioneer innovative approaches to wild heritage conservation.

The CPCC stressed that in this era of rapidly declining biodiversity, humans must be educated to coexist with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for all wildlife.

“Our community programs have demonstrated the benefits individuals and communities gain from engaging wisely with their wildlife neighbors,” stated the CPCC.

“We are currently witnessing the City adopt a conventional planning style, prioritizing human interests immediately adjacent to sensitive wild areas, without establishing buffer zones or placing responsibilities on residents at the urban-wild interface.

The genuine impacts of insensitivity to human encroachment on native flora and fauna are far more complex than this policy allows.

Members of the CP BAG were informed of the decision to remove these baboons in a meeting held two days before the media announcement.

However, the advisory group asserted that they were not involved in this decision.

Aside from the baboon removals, the tolerance period for dispersing males will be significantly reduced.

Dispersing males will be euthanized if they fail to quickly integrate into new troops, as stated by City of Cape Town’s Greg Oelofse during the CP BAG meeting on 27 May at the SANParks office in Tokai.

“Further reductions in the baboon population will occur through contraception programs,” remarked CPCC.

“The contraception trials are highly controversial due to their societal implications and have never been implemented in wild baboons before.

“We will carefully review all options and provide further updates.”

As a community-engaged and representative organization, CPCC urged residents and interested parties to share their thoughts on this imminent action.

*If you would like us to convey your feedback to the JTT, please submit it to info@cpcc.org.za.

Alternatively, email: cpbmjtt@capenature.co.za and copy us.