By Jenni Trethowan | Founding Member
Baboon Matters has been hard pushed to keep up with the increasing need to protect baboons across South Africa. In the wake of devastating fires in the Overstrand Municipality at the start of this year, as well as extreme fires in the Knysna area in 2017 and recurring fires on parts of the Cape peninsula in 2015,2016, 2017 there has been dramatic landscape change compounded by one of the worst droughts in 100 years. In addition to the impact of fire and drought, there is increasing urban and agricultural pressure on land and within these parameters it is not surprising that the interface between humans and baboons is under pressure!
In 2019 we have been liaising closely with other groups and collectively challenged the Baboon Technical Team (comprising City of Cape Town, Cape Nature and Table Mountain National Park) to impelement a moratorium on killing baboons until such time as an inclusive groups can review and revise current management systems through a comprehensive workshop; the goal being to creat a full management plan for the Cape peninsula baboons.
The collective authorities have either ignored the call for a moratorium or delined the reasonable suggestion - but we are continuing to lobby for support so that we can improve the current management through the implementation of by-laws, effective waste management and education.
We have been working hard to find a workable solution for the remaining four Scarborough female baboons and are as frustrated as the many concerned residents and stakeholders who, like us, are not informed of decsions or plans for these isolated and vulnerable baboons.
In Sabie, we have continued to challenge the Baboon Damage Interest Group and Forestry South Africa who hace cancelled planned meetings and refuse to make relevent information available.
It has been a very hard, challenging year with so much to do and very little resources. I would love to be able to have assistance for the myriad of tasks that lie ahead and thank you for your on-going contributions allowing Baboon Matters to keep helping baboons.
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