Baboon's fatal bite 'in panic'

2003-06-06 08:16

Lieze du Preez and Wolfram Zwecker

Taung - A baboon killed a three-month-old in his bed here by sinking its fangs into the boy's head.

Shocked residents of Madipelesa, a remote settlement about 80km from Taung, in North West, now live in fear of wild animals in their area.

The animal apparently entered the house about 11:00 on Wednesday and went into little Neo Tukane's room.

His mother, Betty Tukane, who was doing the dishes in another room, heard him cry and went to investigate.

Police superintendent Louis Jacobs said Tukane tried to chase the baboon away, but it became aggressive and bit her baby.

She called for help and her neighbours drove it off with their dogs.

As he fled, he dropped the baby, which he had been holding, and vanished into nearby bushes. Shocked residents reported the killing to the Kgomotso police.

According to Rita Miljo, director of Care, a baboon and monkey rehabilitation centre outside Phalaborwa, a wild animal's behaviour was difficult to predict, especially when it was trapped.

"Although one would have to look carefully at contributing factors before being able to judge, it sounds like the animal felt trapped.

They go where the food is

"When people started shouting at the baboon, it became even more terrified, and the baby's death was the tragic result," she said.

Miljo said drought was a major factor driving baboons to seek food in houses. People who cooked outdoors provided an added attraction.

"These animals are opportunists. If they're not chased away quickly and emphatically, they'll be back the next day. They learn incredibly quickly where food is and what to do to get their hands on it.

"Baboons and monkeys are usually protective about their young. They might put them in their place every now and then, but they don't usually harm them.

Fangs longer than a lion's

"That's what makes me think he felt trapped and, in his panic, he grabbed and bit the baby.

"The boy's bottle might also have been in his bed. By screaming, people just made things worse. And, a baboon's fangs are longer than a lion's."

Miljo said in such situations it was best to make as little noise as possible.

He added that baboons should be chased away before they figured outwhere food was kept.

Last November, baboons attacked hotel guests at Zwartkops. One person needed stitches to his thigh.

- Beeld