Outrage over baboon killings on Constantia wine farms
Animal rights activists and environmentalists have expressed their anger and dismay over the killing of seven baboons on two Constantia wine farms since last year. The farms, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting, obtained permits from CapeNature to shoot the baboons as a last resort after suffering extensive damage to their vineyards and infrastructure.
Outrage over baboon killings on Constantia wine farms
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According to News24[^1^], CapeNature spokesperson Marietjie Engelbrecht said the permits were valid from October 2019 to October 2020 and were not for recreational hunting. She said the applicants had to prove that they had tried multiple non-lethal mitigation measures over a number of years without success.
However, animal welfare groups such as Baboon Matters and the Cape of Good Hope SPCA have condemned the killings as cruel and ineffective. They argued that shooting baboons only disrupts their social structure and causes more conflict and raiding. They also said that there were alternative solutions such as electric fencing, paintballing, monitoring and education.
Professor Justin O'Riain, director of the University of Cape Town's Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, told News24[^1^] that the situation was complex and that the local vineyards had invested heavily in game fencing and aversive conditioning for many years. He said that baboons were very adaptable and clever animals that could overcome most deterrents. He also said that killing baboons had some short-term relief but was a distant second to non-lethal methods.
O'Riain also pointed out that the baboon population in the Tokai region had grown from about 180 to 260 in the last five years due to the lack of natural predators and the availability of food from farms. He said that humans had broken almost every ecosystem and that wildlife management was necessary to balance food security with wildlife preservation.
The issue of baboon management in the Cape Peninsula has been controversial for decades, as urban development encroaches on their natural habitat and resources. Baboons are protected by law and are considered an integral part of the biodiversity of the region. However, they also pose challenges for residents, farmers and tourists who have to deal with their raids, aggression and diseases.
The City of Cape Town has a baboon management programme that employs rangers to monitor and deter baboons from entering urban areas. The programme also aims to educate the public about coexisting with baboons and preventing them from becoming habituated to human food sources. The programme has been praised for reducing human-baboon conflict and improving the welfare of baboons, but it has also faced criticism for its methods, costs and effectiveness.
Some of the residents and businesses in Constantia have expressed their support for the wine farms that obtained the permits to shoot baboons. They said that they understood the frustration and losses that the farmers faced and that they also experienced problems with baboons on their properties. They said that they respected the farmers' decision and that they hoped that a long-term solution could be found.
However, some of the residents and businesses in Constantia have also expressed their opposition to the baboon killings. They said that they loved and appreciated the baboons as part of their natural environment and that they did not want them to suffer or die. They said that they were shocked and saddened by the news and that they hoped that the permits would be revoked and that more humane methods would be used.
The debate over baboon management in Constantia and the Cape Peninsula is likely to continue as long as there is a conflict of interest between humans and wildlife. While some people see baboons as pests, others see them as treasures. While some people want to protect their livelihoods, others want to protect the environment. While some people want to control baboons, others want to coexist with them. The challenge is to find a balance that respects both human and animal rights and needs. 04f6b60f66