Baboons invade town

2005-07-12 21:56

Johannesburg - Three troops of rowdy baboons are still harassing Zeerust residents by rummaging for food in rubbish bins in the North West town.

The baboons, numbering about 30, first showed up at Abjaterskop Hotel just outside the town, a few months ago.

The hotel is near the rubbish dump, which had been moved closer to town recently.

The animals had quickly learnt that rich food pickings could also be had from the rubbish bins in town.

Hotel manager Naomi Erasmus said on Tuesday she had quickly learnt to put everything which could interest the baboons inside the building.

"Then, at least they behave themselves a bit," she told.

"But they still run across the roofs and just generally make a nuisance of themselves."

Erasmus said campers in the adjacent caravan park had had a tougher time.

"They can't even braai outside and the baboons come. It looks like they smell the food from miles and miles away."

The baboons were obviously hungry, because there were so many of them, she said.

Residents were highly upset about the invasion of their properties.

"Meetings have been held with the municipality in an attempt to address the problem and it was now decided to put up boards forbidding people to feed the animals.

"But that is useless. People feeding the animals is not the problem. The baboons feed from the rubbish dumps and the bins."

No one has yet been bitten by a baboon, although there was one male that became quite aggressive.

Erasmus said she spoke to nature conservation officials about the male and their reaction was: "Shoot him".

"I run a hotel! I don't even own a gun. Anyway, can you imagine the reaction of guests when I jump out from behind a bush armed with a gun and start shooting at the baboon?

"They would all run away."

- SAPA