We all know the endearing face of a baboon infant - the pink face and black hair, clinging to its mother’s back and looking at you with appealing, ‘human’ eyes. These seemingly human features are however not the whole story.

Baboons form a very important part of the precious and sensitive ecosystem that makes Cape Town a unique destination to visit. For this reason they should be protected and properly managed to ensure their continued presence in Cape Town and on the Peninsula. Caring, however, does not mean feeding or touching or interacting. It is precisely such acts that are most probably the unkindest acts of all, as they may lead, directly or indirectly, to the baboon’s death sentence.

A baboon that gets habituated to human presence through our so-called caring interactions, loses its fear of humankind to its own detriment. The baboons’ association of humans with the provisioning of easy food leads to increasing aggression in their efforts to obtain food from people. They will break into cars and homes, run off with bags and cameras, cause great damage and even attack people. Once they become habitual raiders, they run the risk of being ear-marked for euthanasia which means being killed, albeit in a humane way.

This is a call for responsible behaviour towards baboons, whether you love them or hate them; they belong here. In fact, they were here first, and as a wild animal from the continent of Africa they deserve our respect and we are the ones slowly infringing on their territory. The responsible things to do are listed below.

If you are a resident or live adjacent to so-called baboon territory, please:

• Keep house doors and windows locked.
• Dispose of kitchen rubbish in baboon-proof bins that are properly closed and locked. Do not throw it out for birds or on the compost heap.
• Do not leave food out, even when you think it is out of reach.
• Do not cultivate fruit trees, carrots, onions or maize.
• Do not shoot baboons or set your dogs on them – it is illegal to do so, rather call the Baboon Reporting Hotline at 071 588 6540.

If you are a visitor and merely passing through, please:

• Do not stop along the road when you see baboons – pass by slowly and take pictures through the windows.
• Keep car doors locked and windows shut.
• Do not litter – it is illegal as well as detrimental to baboons.
• Do not feed baboons – it is illegal and you will be fined for doing so.

When confronted by a baboon, stay calm, avoid eye contact, speak sternly to it, and most important of all, drop whatever you have in your hands. It will be examined and if it is not edible it will be dropped. Do not corner a baboon. Create avenues of exit and stand aside for it to pass.

We as Capetonians have a responsibility towards both the visitors (tourists) and the visited (Peninsula baboons) – let us spread the word of caution and care so that conflict can be minimised and enjoyment can increase.

The following resources are available to discourage human-baboon interaction:
          A3 poster [PDF 1.1 MB]
          Fold-out leaflet - Understanding Baboons [PDF 2.3 MB]
          Flyer - English [PDF 616 KB]
          Flyer - German [PDF 560 KB]

Please consider the environment before printing this web page.

Skip to top