Durban - Community members in Richmond are considering keeping a group of baboons to attract tourists instead of removing them from a farm where one of the animals severely injured children two weeks ago.
Community leaders were considering the idea of the baboons being kept in a fenced area on the same farm where tourists would be able to visit them.
The leader of the Masosheni farm community, Zwelithini Dlamini, told The Mercury on Wednesday that keeping the baboons would create job opportunities.
However, Dlamini said that while the idea of keeping the animals had been supported by young people, the elders were insisting that they should be removed.
Two weeks ago a baboon attacked two children, Seluleko Xaba, 6, and his 10-year-old cousin Sinethemba Mkhize, in their grandparents’ home on the farm. They had visited the farm for the Easter holidays.
The baboon, which farm owner David Aadnesgaard put down after the attack, was believed to be one of 14 that Durban’s Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) had taken to the farm in 2013 to be integrated with a troop that had been originally living in the forest on the farm.
Dlamini said the attack on the children “was a bad thing”, but he said the incident had brought attention to the animals and opened young people’s eyes to how the animals could change their lives for the better.
“Young people can even be employed permanently as tour guides and to look after the baboons,” he said.
Dlamini said Crow director Claire Hodgkinson had told the meeting that relocating the animals would be impossible, “and the community then suggested that they should be shot and killed”.
“Killing the animals would dent the image of Crow, which is known for caring for the wildlife,” Dlamini said.
He said the community gave Crow and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife two weeks to remove the animals.
“Claire told me two days ago that should we agree to keep the animals, Crow would fund-raise for a zoo-like facility to keep them. This weekend we will meet to discuss matter.”
The children’s grandfather Bhekumuzi Xaba had also changed his mind.
“From the start they were supposed to be fenced so that tourists would be able to see them. How are the tourists supposed to see them if they are hiding in the thick forest?
“As long as they are fenced and not invading our homes to eat our food, they are fine.”
He said the children had since been discharged from hospital and were recovering.
Hodgkinson said it was “wonderful news” that the community was considering keeping the baboons on the farm.
The Mercury