AP

Just four months after Fred, Cape Town’s “mugger” baboon, was put down for raiding cars, two other baboons have been given lethal injections for bad behaviour.

Jimmy from the Smitswinkel troop, whose apparent love of doughnuts was his downfall, and a male baboon from Tokai were put down last Friday for raiding houses and becoming too brazen.

Some residents are now asking who will be next in the firing line.

Lorna Thomas of Welcome Glen said it appeared that any tagged baboon was at risk.

“Even some females have been tagged,” said Thomas.

For the last few years, researchers have used techniques like satellite-tracking collars, ear-tags and micro-chip implants to learn more about the home ranges of the baboons.

The data was supposed to help conserve them but there is a growing suspicion the information is being used to build up a profile of “problem” animals and repeat raiders so they can be put down.

But Dr Elzette Jordan, City of Cape Town veterinarian and part of the Baboon Operational Team, said Jimmy had become unmanageable and a threat to humans, just as Fred had. Fred’s controversial culling made international headlines.

“Both their cases were referred to CapeNature’s wildlife advisory committee for a decision but Jimmy was given a reprieve,” said Jordan.

“It was thought he’d take over the alpha male role in the Smitswinkel troop and become interested in a female but he couldn’t resist the lure of human food.”

Jordan said Jimmy grew up in the Happy Valley troop above Simon’s Town and shared food with the residents of the local shelter there.

“He was raised on doughnuts. He also had no fear of humans and was the only baboon we know of who’d break the windows of properties in the middle of the night to get to food.”

Jimmy later joined the Smitswinkel troop, and would peel away from his fellows and work his way through the local B&Bs and resorts looking for a sugar fix.

SPCA Wildlife Unit supervisor Brett Glasby said it was not the baboons who were to blame but people who were unwilling to secure their houses and refrain from leaving food out.

“Baboons are intelligent. If they see food they want it, and people need to secure their personal belongings,” said Glasby.

He said all baboons on the peninsula with an ear tag were on a watch list.

Almost like criminals, they build up “charge sheets”, so if they raid too often and become aggressive they face being put down.

Jordan said it would help if residents and welfare organisations gave them permission to use effective tools like bullwhips and bear bangers (flares that make a loud noise) to chase baboons out of suburbs.

“Otherwise we’ll never win the battle,” said Jordan.

But residents like Thomas believe noise aversion techniques such as these are abuse.

Instead, she says the baboon monitors should be trained to be assertive rather than aggressive. - Saturday Argus

helen.bamford@inl.co.za