I worked with the Cape Peninsula population of Chacma Baboons in South Africa in 2008-2009, creating one of the only comprehensive photo documentations of these endangered primates in existence (gallery), showing the intimacies of their lives in the wild few people ever see. The experience changed my life and, along with my work in the Klamath Basin, was the most compelling work I've ever done.
The Basics Chacma Baboons have lived sustainably on the Cape Peninsula for 1,000,000 years (map of the troops). They are now on the brink of extinction, with an estimated 10 years left, due to habitat loss, a stagnant gene pool, electrocution on power lines, and local residents who shoot, poison, trap, and run them over.
There are 350 baboons in 11 troops, half in and half out of the park (map). The problems are speeding cars, violent residents, uneducated tourists, unsecured garbage, and a lack of monitors - men who physically "herd" the baboons, keeping them in wild areas and out of local towns.
The baboons have plenty of food. The Cape is a botanical wonderland, with a big national park taking up much of it. They forage on over 100 wild plants. It's also a vacation mecca, and residents and tourists leave garbage around and don't secure their trash. Tourists also feed the baboons, all of which has given them a taste for bread, fruit, etc. The baboons are fast and mobile, and come down from the wildlands looking for easy treats. A handful of angry residents kill and maim them.
Difficult to Watch Despite the baboons being protected by law, local residents have created a legacy of shooting, poisoning, trapping, and running them over. This video has sound.
Solutions and Recent Policy Changes (October 2009) Baboon Matters, the primary NGO that has worked for 20 years (and the group I worked with) to help manage local conflicts, rescue and rehab injured baboons, and provide monitors, recently had their contracts and priveleges curtailed for not going along with a new policy shift (September 2009) that focuses on rounding up and killing som of the baboons.
The solutions, while not simple, are clear. Monitor all of the troops, an approach that has proven highly successfull, secure municipal garbage and force locals to secure garbage, better educate tourists on securing food and not feeding the baboons, reduce and enforce speed limits, stop allowing picnics in baboon habitat in the national park (a ridiculous policy), and enforce existing laws against harming or killing the baboons.
In some regards the bare minimum is still not being done. Trash cans on the beach are still unsecured after decades of dealing with the baboons, locals still regularly kill and maim the baboons with immunity, and now, instead of doing the right thing, the government has decided to kill the baboons. Get Involved Contact Baboon Matters (email | website) to get involved. Director Jenni Trethowan has been a tireless champion for the baboons, working day in and day out for almost 20 years, rescuing and rehabilitating injured baboons, working with the government on policy issues, and administering a complex monitoring program.
Baboon Matters Newsletters (PDF) September 2009 - Urgent appeal to help stop new City of Cape Town policy on killing the baboons. Your help is needed to make a difference. 2008 Newsletter #2 - On the Homefront, Highlights of 2008, Summertime Raiding, Sparkles, Baboons Monitors, Baboon Wanderings, George, Mikey Mohican 2008 Newsletter #1 - On the Homefront, The Fires of 2008, Recovery Unit, Baboon Monitors, Penelope, Management, Waste, News
