The Voëlklip baboon troop has been venturing into town with increasing frequency in recent weeks, prompting wildlife-management officials to adapt their strategies and implement additional measures to protect both residents and the animals.
According to the Baboon Management Programme the increased urban activity stems from recent changes in troop dynamics and readily available food sources within residential areas. A roaming male baboon recently challenged the troop’s dominant male, causing occasional group splits and behavioural changes that have persisted even after the challenger’s defeat.
According to the Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill, the primary factor keeping the troop in town was the abundance of food. “Contributing factors include fruit trees in residential areas, residents placing birdseed and other wildlife foodstuff, and some community members deliberately feeding the baboons.
“The constant availability of food keeps the troop in town for extended periods,” O’Neill explained, “making it extremely difficult to move them out again, even with intervention tools.”
Residents are also reminded that feeding wildlife, including baboons and birds, violates the Cape Nature Ordinance of 1974. This practice significantly complicates management efforts and poses risks to both human and animal safety.
The Baboon Management team, O’Neill said, continues deploying proven deterrent methods, including bangers and screamers as audible deterrents along the town’s edge, plus primers and gel blasters to encourage the troop to return to their natural habitat. “Screamers and bangers are used between the town and the mountain range when weather conditions are favorable,” he said. “These tools help move the troop up the cliffs and over the mountain, with no more than 3-4 used at any given time.”
The Overstrand Municipality also implemented several improvements to strengthen management capabilities:
• Paintball markers: The Overstrand Municipality has acquired paintball markers, with staff training currently being finalised to meet permit and standard operating procedure requirements.
• Additional staff: Approval has been granted for recruiting additional personnel, with the municipality actively seeking experienced baboon monitors to support the existing trained team.
• Enhanced training: The current team will receive additional and refresher training to adapt to recent changes in troop behavior, with experienced staff from the western region providing field support in coming weeks.
• Targeted inspections: The team will conduct “blitz inspections” to identify food sources throughout town, including fruit trees, bird feeders, and non-baboon-proof bins. Educational meetings will follow with affected residents.
• Municipal tree management: Plans are underway to trim fruit trees selectively on municipal property that currently attract the troop into urban areas.
The management strategy focuses on keeping the Voëlklip troop away from urban areas for extended periods, benefiting both residents and baboons. Officials acknowledge that changes in behaviour, troop dynamics and food availability are natural occurrences requiring adaptive management approaches.
“Flexibility is essential for effective and responsible baboon management,” O’Neill said. “The management team continues to adapt to these changes as part of our commitment to sustainable, humane and scientifically-informed solutions.”
The previous management company’s practice of moving troops well over the mountain and deeper into reserves, while remaining within natural home ranges, has created larger buffers between troops and urban areas, improving overall management effectiveness. As the situation evolves the Baboon Management Programme maintains its focus on evidence-based practices while working closely with the community to ensure both human safety and animal welfare in the Voëlklip area.
