The euthanasia of a well-known male chacma baboon, Lips, has sparked a wave of anger and concern among residents of Old Constantia Village, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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Lips, who was frequently seen in the area, was put down following a decision by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT).
The task team, which includes representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, confirmed that the decision was made after careful deliberation.
In a statement, the task team explained that the euthanasia of Lips (known as CON18) was in line with their established baboon management protocols, which are guided by a set of guidelines that have been approved and adopted by the relevant authorities.
However, the decision has raised strong objections from animal welfare groups, including Baboons of the South, an advocacy organisation dedicated to the protection of baboons.
Lorraine Holloway, a representative of the group, voiced her concerns by issuing an open letter to the task team, questioning the rationale behind the euthanasia and the overall management approach for urban baboon populations.
Holloway called for more transparency and better oversight, particularly regarding the accuracy of data used in decision-making and whether the Baboon Advisory Group, a community forum, had been properly consulted.
She also expressed frustration over the lack of timely public communication about the decision, which only came after significant public pressure.
Lips’ death follows the disappearance of another male baboon, Quinton, who was part of the CT2 troop. Quinton has not been found, adding to the distress in the community.
Holloway emphasised the importance of ensuring the task team is held accountable for their actions, urging residents to push for answers every time a baboon is killed or goes missing.
In response, the task team acknowledged that not all stakeholders may agree with their decisions but stood by their approach, stating that it was based on thorough research and expert advice. They affirmed their commitment to following the official baboon management guidelines (BTTG03) as needed.
Despite this, Holloway has continued to advocate for a rethinking of current policies. She argued that the existing guidelines are outdated and overly harsh, urging for a more compassionate and conservation-focused approach to baboon management.
‘These guidelines are cruel and outdated,’ she said, ‘and the promised review of them, which was supposed to take place in December 2023, has yet to occur.’
Holloway’s calls for reform reflect broader concerns about the future of baboon populations in urban areas and the need for a more humane, scientifically-grounded strategy to address human-wildlife conflicts.
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Picture: Baboons of the South / Facebook
