SIMON’S TOWN – Conservation organisations demanded on Friday (13 November) that the capture and confinement of two baboon troops in an enclosure outside Simon’s Town be stopped immediately.
This comes after the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of the Cape of Good Hope confirmed that the operation to capture 60 Chacma baboons, indigenous to the Cape Peninsula, and confine them in the enclosure at the urban wildlife centre at Kogelfontein began earlier Friday morning.
The operation was carried out under great secrecy.
Permits confirmed amid information blackout
Upon enquiry, the SPCA sent a statement to Die Papier, in which the organisation acknowledged that CapeNature issued permits for the capture and confinement of the baboons.
Civil society and the media directed several enquiries to the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, SANParks and the so-called CPBMJTT (Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team) in an attempt to obtain information about the operation.
The CPBMJTT acknowledged on Friday evening that the permits “are in place”. They did not respond to any other enquiries.
EMS Foundation opposes confinement
The EMS Foundation said in an open letter that the conservation organisation is strongly opposed to the capture and confinement of wild baboons.
The EMS believes the CPBMJTT’s continued reference to the enclosure as a sanctuary is extremely misleading.
The animals are now being deprived of their freedom. They will no longer be able to roam freely and forage for themselves. They will die out in this enclosure.
The EMS Foundation appeals to CapeNature, the City of Cape Town and SANParks to make public the permit and the requirements issued by CapeNature, said Michele Pickover, executive director of the organisation.
“Publish the permit, the requirements and the reasons why this process was approved,” she demanded.
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Concerns over welfare and future
Megan Carr, chief researcher of EMS, says the organisation wants to know whether any research has been done on the future and the consequences for the two baboon troops who must now spend their lives in an enclosure. “The entire process is shocking.”
“We also want to know the condition of every baboon that has been captured so far.”
EMS further demands that every baboon captured so far be properly examined and safely returned to nature.
“We urge the standing committee on environmental affairs and development planning of the Western Cape government to hold an emergency meeting and hold the authorities who approved this operation publicly accountable.”
SPCA monitors operation
The SPCA says in its statement that an inspector is on site to oversee the baboons’ welfare.
“Our inspector is at Kogelfontein to oversee the capture, transport and placement of the animals in the urban wildlife centre (the enclosure).
“The SPCA is present. This does not mean we support the process. Our position remains unwavering: we are opposed to the placement of wild, free-roaming baboons in permanent confinement.”
David Bryant, chairperson of the standing committee, says he realises the matter is urgent, but parliament is almost in recess. He believes the election “has disrupted things”.
Adam Weilbach, a resident who followed the trucks with the baboons on them along with hundreds of other residents all day, says he believes eight baboons have now been captured and offloaded at Kogelfontein.
ALSO READ: City confirms baboon sanctuary development underway for Southern Peninsula troops
