GEORGE NEWS - Eden residents felt as if they were under siege on Thursday when a troop of nine baboons climbed over fences and lounged on roofs.
Tessa Rhodes, a Kersoog Street resident, said the loud yelps and cries of her neighbour's two dogs who were attacked in Spreeu Street, chilled her to the bone. After that she was too frightened to let her dog out. "What are we supposed to do? I can't keep my dog indoors forever. I was relieved to learn later that the dogs are fine."
The troop was seen going uphill in Bokmakierie Street and wandered up into Stander Street.
Two neighbours, Anne Germena and Kobie Mocke, put rubber snakes on their properties to frighten the baboons off, but it was of no avail. Germena said she got a fright last week when the bigger males in the troop headed for her garage just as she returned from shopping. "My hands were shaking so much I could not push the automatic door button fast enough."
She spent 20 minutes in her garage, too scared to go out. Their aggressive behaviour struck a chord of fear with both families. "What if you have young children visiting?" asked both the women. "We no longer feel safe. It really is becoming a problem. The authorities should do something to address the situation."
The Mocke's vegetable garden was also raided. In previous years there was an ugly confrontation with a baboon who was found in their pantry ripping open bags and spreading the content all over. In yet another incident one of the baboons seized their labrador and dragged it to the wall where he let go. Deon Mocke, owner of the Outeniqua Farmers' Market, said it was not uncommon to see troops of up to 19 baboons sauntering up the street and each choosing a favourite roof to sit on. "We live in close proxi-mity to the forest and of late they have been here frequently."
CapeNature's Conservation Services Manager Barend le Roux said a meeting was recently held with the George Municipality and the situation is being monitored. An information pamphlet was compiled stating that the the George Municipality's Mario Giewelaar could be contacted on 044 801 6300 or at mario@george.org.za to report baboon incidents. CapeNature can be contacted on 044 802 5300 for advice on mitigating measures.
- Keep doors locked and windows closed when baboons are in the vicinity
- Install night bolts into sliding doors
- Ensure that windows have a latch at each end of the opening edge to prevent baboons from pulling the frame and breaking the glass
- Install burglar bars with smaller than 8cm openings
Baboons are protected by law and will only be euthanised as a last resort - in George they have not reached the point of declaring them as habitual raiders said Le Roux. Anyone feeding a baboon could face a stiff fine and a year's imprisonment. Residents should not leave their refuse bags outside and get baboon raid-proof refuse bins.
Rhodes has resorted to making a racket by banging a metal plate with a metal spoon to frighten the baboons off.
ARTICLE AND PHOTO: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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