A global conflict in one place

Baboon disputes in Cape Town reflect a larger question: how much room will humans leave for wild animals when they expand into their living spaces?

Two troops marked for captivity

The Waterfall and Seaforth baboon troops will be trapped and moved to a fenced Urban Wildlife Centre at Kogelfontein, where they will live permanently.

The cost of managing baboons

Cape Town has committed thirty three million rand over three financial years to baboon management, roughly eighteen thousand rand per animal per year across about six hundred Peninsula baboons.

Funding the sanctuary

Ten million rand has been allocated to the Urban Wildlife Centre at Kogelfontein near Scarborough, where about sixty baboons will become permanent residents, housed and fed for life.

Which baboons go where

Forty four baboons from the Waterfall troop and sixteen from the Seaforth troop will be housed in separate sections of the enclosure, according to Sarah Waries coordinating construction.

Population growth and habitat loss

Baboon numbers rose from roughly three hundred sixty in ten troops in two thousand to more than six hundred in seventeen troops in two thousand twenty four, while development consumed lowland foraging areas.

The official plan takes shape

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Action Plan, amended in June two thousand twenty six and produced jointly by the City, CapeNature and SANParks, proposes firmer boundaries, population limits and permanent captivity for two troops.

Contraception in captivity

Mature females in the enclosure will receive contraceptive implants replaced every two to three years. There will be no breeding, no additional baboons and no return to the wild.

“would provide additional protection against breeding and reduce aggression associated with sexual cycling”

Why these troops are targeted

The authorities describe many Waterfall baboons as in poor physical condition, highly accustomed to people and vulnerable to human caused injuries and deaths. Seaforth also threatens the critically endangered African penguin colony.

Captivity or culling

The authorities made their purpose explicit: the Urban Wildlife Centre is an alternative to culling these two troops, rather than a conservation outcome.

The euthanasia clause

If welfare problems or funding shortages cause the sanctuary to fail and cannot be remedied, the animals would be euthanised under a CapeNature permit with SPCA oversight.

Constantia troops get a fence

The Constantia troops will be released on the mountain side of a new northern fence with rangers patrolling. The plan rates the likelihood of success as very low because of limited low lying habitat.

Crossing the fence means death

Baboons breaching a functioning northern fence would be killed. Exceptions cover power failures, damaged fencing, opened wildfire escape panels and dispersing males using the Orpen Road biodiversity corridor.

Population ceilings and culling triggers

The plan sets managed baboon limits of two hundred fifty in the north and one hundred seventy five in the south. If a regional limit is exceeded for more than six months, authorities would reduce numbers through euthanasia.

Humans must change too

A proposed Urban Wildlife Management Bylaw would strengthen penalties for harming or habituating baboons and require protective measures for new developments. Households and businesses must attend to waste, bins and compost heaps.

The plan will be implemented

Campaigners asked for a pause to allow independent scrutiny. The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team declined, saying delay would prolong harm. The Action Plan has been approved and will be implemented.

“The Action Plan has been approved and will be implemented.”