By Jenni Trethowan | Baboon Matters
Stop Killing baboons – Report August 2025
It has been a very busy time for Baboon Matters as we have been fighting for baboons on so many levels! For the first time since the 1990’s the joint authorities are considering removing 5 troops of baboons from the Cape peninsula – and our worry is that 120 baboons may be killed.
120 baboons to be “removed”
On the 29 May 2025, the joint authorities (City of Cape Town, Cape Nature and SANParks – known as the JTT) issued a press statement in which they announced their intention to “remove 5 troops’ of baboons.
From the JTT press statement, 29 May 2025:
It is proposed that five splinter troops be removed from the Cape Peninsula as these troops have limited access to low-lying natural land with plants of high nutritional value for foraging; the low-lying areas are too small to sustain them; rangers have very little success in keeping the baboons out of the urban areas leading to an over-reliance on aversion techniques; the health and welfare of the troops are severely compromised; and escalating conflict between baboons and residents is being recorded.
The JTT went on to elaborate:
How these troops should be removed will be reviewed by a panel of external international and local experts and will be open for comment by the CPBAG. The options include translocation for rewilding, capture and removal to an existing sanctuary or to a newly established sanctuary, humane euthanasia, or a combination of these options.
**NB since issuing their statement the current service provider (CBP) has worked to ensure the group of just four baboons ins now back with their natal troop, and are now “safe”.
Legal considerations
In response to the threat 120 baboons are now under, Baboon Matters and our partners Baboon Management Western Cape and Baboons of the South, focused attention on our recently obtained Court Order and our letter of demand to the individual authorities, so that if the decision to kill the baboons is officially made, we will be ready to combat the decision in terms of the law.
Effective Campaign – “No to killing – Yes to Solutions”
In response to the threat 120 baboons are now under, Baboon Matters and our partners Baboon Management Western Cape and Baboons of the South, focused attention on our recently obtained Court Order and our letter of demand to the individual authorities, so that if the decision to kill the baboons is officially made, we will be ready to combat the decision in terms of the law.
In addition, we partnered with Beauty Without Cruelty SA, Baboon Watch WC and Green Group Simons Town to launch and extensive campaign to make the general public aware of the threat the baboons are under and organized a protest march through Simons Town, an area which stands to have two troops of baboons eliminated if the JTT proceed with the plans.
Our campaign, “No to Killing, Yes to Solutions” has been highly effective and reached hundreds of thousands of people through our social media as well as hard media outlets.
The protest march was exceptionally well attended, with well over 500 people walking for the baboons – when one considers that protests late last year had only 30, or so, attendees, it show just how outraged the general public are at the thought of 120 baboons being killed.
Injured baboons in need of veterinary care:
In addition to the Cape peninsula baboons, we have continued to work to help individual baboons in distress, ensuring veterinary help for a badly injured female baboon as well as two young juveniles. Unfortunately the mother baboon was humanely euthanased as a result of the terrible injuries sustained, but we managed to save her infant.
NB Our colleagues at GlobalGiving have asked that I do not post images of the injured animals, as some people find the content upsetting.
Support for colleagues and smaller organisations:
We have also continued to provide support to various organisations in need and participate on various groups and forum to advocate for the better protection and care of baboons nationally,
Baboon Population Estimation:
Baboon Matters continues to work on our long term project to undertake a population estimation of baboons across South Africa as it is more apparent than ever that baboons are increasingly persecuted. We have continued to explore the best methodology to undertake a project of this size and have had productive meetings with scientists, IT specialist and experienced wildlife experts – as well as taking every opportunity to go and look for baboons whenever possible.
Thank you!
This report gives a brief overview of the breadth of work we undertaken – work that would not be possible without the support of our hugely appreciated donors. Thank you for supporting baboons and thank you for your on going contributions, with your help we can continue to fight for this persecuted species and help injured or orphaned baboons get the help they need.
From all the baboons you have helped and from all of our partners – thank you for your help!!
https://www.facebook.com/baboonmatterstrust/videos/1226825382100609/
https://www.facebook.com/baboonmatterstrust/videos/1248336526476083/
https://www.facebook.com/chantal.carstens.7/videos/1373369820410255
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