By Jenni Trethowan | Baboon Matters
In my last report to our GlobalGiving supporters, I detailed handing over the management of the CT2 troop to the incoming service provider and noted that we will no longer be managing the charasmatic little troop.
You can imagine our absolute surprise, anger and frustration to hear that the CT2 troop, plus three other troops, are now under threat of being culled or being removed to a sanctuary; the shocking news was confirmed through a press statement from the Joint Task Team (the JTT is made up of authorities of from Cape Nature, City of Cape Town and SANParks).
The JTT announced their intention to remove 5 spliter troops i.e. troops that have broken away from the parent troop to establish new, small troops. What is concerning is that the troops they have identified all moved and regrouped years ago (the Waterfall troop moved over 15 years ago) and one of the "troops" is really only two female baboons and their two juveniles, so 4 baboons!
The troops in question are not new or as a result of an unmanaged event and to remove them now after they have lived in established ranges for years now is questionable especially since so few mitigation strategies have been implemented.
We are told that the JTT have appointed a panel of experts to appraise the situation and to weigh up the implications of culling the troops versus sending the troops to a sanctuary; the sanctuary would have to be established for the baboons as there are no viable exisitng centres who have space for these baboons.
We await to hear the outcome of the panel deliberations which will take place in coming weeks and then hear how the JTT will proceed with the implementation of those plans.
In the meantime, we have sent a letter of demand to interdict (if necessary) to prevent the baboons being killed, we are raising levels of public awareness with active posts of social media and the press, we are preparing a march of protest to prevent any of the baboons being killed and we will be using our recently acquired court order to ensure legitimate solutions have been implemented before the drastic steps are made to remove the troops.
I honestly did not think we would face the day when the authorities once again contemplate the removal of entire troops, it is devastating to note that after more than 25 years of hard work, mitigation strategies have still not been implemented but culling or removing troops is? Your support through this difficult time will be hugely appreciated.
Baboon Matters will be fighting for the best possible outcome for the troops under threat and for baboons eveywhere and now more than ever we need financial assistance to continue with our hard work.
By Jenni Trethowan | Founder Member
By Jenni Trethowan | Founder member
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