The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (JTT) would like to notify the community about the availability of a summarised report regarding baboon-proof fencing.
The Baboon Strategic Management Plan (BSMP) report is open for review by the affected communities and will be completed by the end of September and made available to the public once it is finalised.
The objective is to maintain baboons in their natural habitat while minimising their presence in urban areas.
Also read: Baboon Strategic Management Plan is nearing completion
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In July, the JTT, composed of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, entered into an agreement that was hailed as the first step in establishing a sustainable management plan for the Chacma baboon population in the Cape Peninsula.
The JTT has put forward a proposal within the report, suggesting a possible location on the Cape Peninsula where baboon-proof fencing could be erected. The team recently conducted on-site assessments in Simon’s Town and Scarborough to evaluate the feasibility of implementing baboon-proof fencing.
The areas were selected based on several factors, including the available funding, terrain characteristics, land ownership status, required environmental authorisations, and the expected benefits of maintaining baboons within their natural habitat and away from urban areas to the extent possible.
The report outlines critical features of the fencing, such as the height and design, as well as determining the feasibility of a location and includes maps that identify potential areas for consideration.
No definitive decisions have been made regarding the specific locations for implementing the fencing. According to the JTT, a report summarising the possible locations that may be considered for strategic fencing is being prepared and will be made available when completed.
Community meetings are an integral component of this procedure. The JTT plans to share and assess any fencing proposals outlined in the report with the communities that will be affected in the upcoming months.
The initial community meetings are tentatively scheduled for October and November and will involve residents from Simon’s Town, Constantia, Murdoch Valley and Zwaanswyk/Tokai.
During the community gatherings, the JTT will provide an overview of the human-baboon conflict challenges prevalent in the affected areas with prospective solutions for the short, medium and long term, specific to each area. These proposals are meant for contemplation and dialogue among residents of the affected communities.
Residents from the affected areas are encouraged to offer strategies, actions and interventions that can be discussed at the community meetings.
Written comments are to be addressed to [email protected]
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Also read:
Cape of Good Hope SPCA release first ‘State of Baboon Welfare’ report
Picture: Ercan Evcimen / Pexels