Baboon attacks 'not isolated'

2002-11-20 09:36

Marlise Scheepers and Jo Prins

Johannesburg - The male baboon that attacked a man at the Aloe Ridge Hotel in Zwartkops at the weekend is most likely one of several that have attacked people in the past.

Beeld has had calls from people saying they had been attacked by baboons at the hotel in the past two years.

A Randburg legal advisor, Leon de Bruin, appears to have been the latest victim, being bitten on his thigh and backside on Friday while at the hotel pool. He said on Tuesday he would seek legal advice once he was "less emotional and no longer traumatised".

Elsabie Templeton of Midrand told on Tuesday how a male baboon had ripped open her blouse and scratched her stomach in May last year outside the hotel's reception area.

"I was taking my luggage from the car, about 7:00, when the beast attacked me. I was totally flabbergasted."

Templeton says she immediately lodged a complaint with Alex Richter, owner of the Aloe Ridge Hotel.

"He insinuated that I had teased the baboon. He said he wouldn't take action because the baboons were a huge drawcard for foreign tourists."?

Had to have 96 stitches

Bill Hollenbach, an astronomer who worked at the hotel for 14 months, said he was aware of seven or eight similar attacks.

"One of the victims was a carpenter who built a platform for a lookout point. He had to have 96 stitches to his head and backside," he said.

A receptionist, who worked at the hotel two years ago and spoke on condition of anonymity, said she was aware of three cases of people being bitten by baboons.

Gien Elsas of the Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (Care) said she estimated the troop at Aloe Ridge at between 40 to 50 animals.

"In general, it is a happy troop, but I think there are too many males and the troop should be monitored."

Leo Lotter, the Gauteng nature conservation law enforcement chief, said that, under the law, his department could not act against Richter.

"Under present legislation, a landowner has many rights to control these things. Our approach is that the hotel created the problem and is responsible for solving it," he said.

Richter declined to respond to telephone calls and faxes on Tuesday.

- Beeld