Seeing African wildlife is a dream for many people. But for those who live surrounded by these creatures, some species are simply nuisance animals. The Chacma or Cape baboon (Papio cynophalus ursinus) of Southern Africa, for example, is viewed by some as an enemy and some as a natural and welcome part of the landscape.
In Botswana where the human population is small, villagers use the baboons as an early warning system. Their cries alert to the presence of predators such as lions. When they need to sleep out in the open villagers will tend to camp near a known baboon roosting tree. Impala and other ungulates are often found near baboons for the same reason. Locals also know that they must protect their food or the baboons will steal it so they take necessary precautions such as using thorn bush barriers around crops.
But near Cape Town, South Africa the situation is very different. Human encroachment and urban development has left some baboons trapped in the Table Mountain National Park area. With coastal mountains to the south and human development to the north, the baboons literally have nowhere to go.
Locals are divided into the anti-baboon side that wants to see the animals eliminated and the pro-baboon side working to find ways to reduce and eventually eliminate any human-animal conflict. The baboons break into houses and steal food, often leaving chaos behind. Those whose homes are invaded want action. But others feel that it is a matter of learning to live in such a way as to prevent problems.
Baboon Matters has developed a program using locals as monitors to discourage the baboons when they start to head in the direction of human habitation. They also give walking tours so people can see the baboons in their natural habitat and learn about the species and the issues. Teaching humans appropriate ways to behave around the baboons as well as to prevent them from becoming nuisance animals is the goal.
In addition to the human-animal conflict issues that have arisen there is also serious concern for the health of this population. Young male baboons normally leave their troop to join a different, neighboring troop. This prevents inbreeding and the resultant genetic abnormalities that follow. With no troops to migrate out to and no new males coming into the area, this population is likely to face genetic disaster. And, given the extent of human encroachment in the area, it is unlikely that an appropriate wildlife corridor can be developed to prevent this happening.
