ADOPT - A - BABOON
The Chacma baboon population surviving on the Cape Peninsula is under serious
threat. The peninsula baboons are probably the most famous group of Chacma
baboons in the world and are seen by tens of thousands of tourists each year
and receive an enormous amount of publicity.
Sadly, a lot of this publicity revolves around animals being shot, killed
or maimed by humans. The Cape Peninsula baboons have been isolated for well
over a hundred years due to development on the Cape Flats that effectively
cut them off from contact with other troops. The peninsula troops are already
showing signs of in-breeding.
The biggest threat to the population is the fact that the remaining baboons
come into contact with humans on a daily basis - this leads to conflict as
the baboons enter villages searching for easy food. The resulting conflict
has already led to baboons disappearing from large parts of the peninsula,
and they no longer occur on Table Mountain. Recent censuses show that there
are now only 360 baboons left on the Cape Peninsula. Two of the most threatened
troops are the Slangkop and De Gama Park troops. Over ten animals from these
troops have been killed in April and May of this year alone.
Safeguarding Their Future
A Baboon Management Team is currently in place to try and alleviate problems.
Various management techniques have been tried to keep the animals out of villages.
The only management technique that has been shown to work is the Baboon monitors.
These men follow the troops on a daily basis and try to keep them out of the
villages and thus prevent conflict. Relocation of these animals is not an
option and the only choices are management versus extermination. Extermination
is unacceptable thus the monitoring project is the only viable solution we
have. To keep the monitors in the field is a costly exercise and the funds
are currently obtained from a partnership agreement between South African
National Parks, The City of Cape Town and the private sector.
These contributions are still not enough for us to run an effective monitor
programme and thus further funding is needed. For this reason we have come
up with the Adopt-a-Baboon concept.
The Adopt-a-Baboon Concept
Individuals or corporates can adopt a baboon from either the
Slangkop or
Da Gama Park troops. These are the two troops that
are under the most threat.
Many of the baboons already have names that have been given to them by researchers
working with them in the field. If your chosen baboon does not have a name
you will be able to name it yourself.
How it works
Scroll down the list of animals from the two troops and read their individual
profiles. If an animal does not have a company logo or an individuals name
next to, it means that this animal is available for adoption.
To adopt a baboon your payment must be at least R1 000 per annum. Contributors
paying between R1 000 to R3 000 per annum will have their logo or name inserted
next to the chosen animal. They will also receive a certificate with a picture
of this animal.
Contributors of over R3 000 per annum will also receive a free baboon video
and in addition will be able to go on a walk with the relevant troop at some
stage during the year. This will have to be booked in advance.
All contributors will also receive regular reports on their chosen animal.
Procedure
Once you have chosen your animal you can contact us by e-mail:
info@keag.org.za
For more information you can contact Wally Petersen by telephone: 021 783
3433 or 082 824 1914
Banking details for Baboon Fund
Baboon Fund
ABSA Bank - Fishhoek
Branch code - 548809
Account number - 907 125 9081
[PICTURES BY JENNI TRETHOWAN AND ESME BEAMISH]
Click the image below to Adopt A Baboon
