Stop Killing Baboons!

The first quarter of 2026 has been remarkably positive and I am pleased to report that after a long struggle with a very old, failing vehicle we have received sponsorship and received a wonderful, robust vehicle at the start of April!  It is wonderful to know that we can now get to baboons in need of help as well as attend important meetings and travel to communities who request our assistance. 

We have been increasingly concerned about the numbers of baboons being hit by cars, particularly at a very steep mountain pass into the City of Cape Town; the baboons dart through the speeding traffic and all too often I get calls of individuals being injured.  Tragically the adult male of the small troop was recently critically injured and humanely euthanised.  We will be arranging meetings with the municipality and stakeholder groups to see what mitigation strategies could be implemented at the notorious corner and we are also setting up rapid response and contact numbers of veterinarians to assist in these cases.

I am very happy to report that after being requested to help Wildlife Rescue (NPO) with a young baboon who had been found alone, we were able to successfully return the 5 month old boy back to his troop!  It was a very difficult return as the troop’s home range is in a very mountainous region and it took a few attempts before we were able to locate the troop.

The rescue and return occurred during a recent heat wave and I must say that sitting on the mountain watching the troop while the juvenile was being transported to the site was unbelievably hot and enervating but the release went off incredibly well so all the travel, and heat exhaustion were worth it!   Once we had the travel box in proximity to the troop, the lad called out and immediately a few of the females ran to investigate. When I opened the travel box, the little baboon confidently walked towards the approaching females, one of whom scooped him up and sped him away up the mountain to safety.   

What I found immensely heartwarming about this release was how very brave the female baboons are; baboons are trapped and killed in heinous ways, in many situations the mother baboons are killed and their infants used as bait to lure the troops into traps where they are killed.  At this release, the baboons were anxious, they did not know me and were very wary – but they ran to rescue the little boy anyway!  I admire these animals so much for their brave and courageous willing to help family members no matter the risk to themselves!

It is successes like this that remind me how much there is to do and encourage me to keep trying; we are reaching more and more receptive landowners and working collaboratively with organisations who are every bit as determined as we are to make changes.

Baboon Matters is entirely dependent on public funding and are so grateful that you support our work through your contributions.  It is thanks to you that the little lad was returned to his troop and now has every opportunity for a full life with his family.  Thank you  for supporting our work!