Another baboon killed in Denneoord

GEORGE NEWS - A case of animal cruelty and discharging a firearm in a municipal area was opened at the George Police after a large male baboon was shot dead in Dahlia Street, Denneoord.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said George detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident which was reported at about 11:00 on Tuesday 30 July. "No arrests have been made yet. Investigation into the matter continues."

The SPCA vet, Suzanne Muller, said the autopsy confirmed that the baboon was shot. X-rays revealed three pellets, one in its jaw and two others that damaged organs and caused internal bleeding. "He bled himself to death," she said.

A senior inspector of the SPCA, Cheri Cooke, said one of the pellets was to be handed over to the police.

A regular baboon 'visitor' was shot dead in 2021 in Denneoord. Shocked residents at the time said he was not aggressive or annoying and he was so well known in the neighbourhood that they named him Scar.

According to Kevin Woodborne, an eyewitness of Tuesday's incident, the baboon fell from a tree into the road. The animal was still alive and made noises while lying in the street. Woodborne immediately contacted the SPCA, but the animal was already dead when they arrived on the scene a short while later.

"I was working on the roof of a house on the opposite side of the street when my colleague drew my attention to a big baboon that was on its way from the nearby veld in the direction of the houses.

"I climbed down to fetch something from my bakkie. While I was busy there, the baboon suddenly fell from the tree into the road."

Closer inspection revealed what appeared to be a gunshot wound to its left side. "It was a biggish wound.

"The person who shot him, must have used a muffler, because we did not hear any shots being fired. I picked up two air gun pellets in the street of .22 calibre."

Woodborne says three small children were playing in the garden of the property next to where he and his colleague were working. "If the shooter had missed the baboon, he could have hit us or the children."

He also called the police and later laid a charge at the police office.

CapeNature disapproves of behaviour

CapeNature spokesperson Petro van Rhyn says at this stage it cannot be confirmed if the baboon was indeed shot and who is responsible.

"In terms of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974, it is a contravention to hunt a wild animal without a permit with any firearm in a public place in an area under jurisdiction of a local authority.

"It is also a contravention to hunt a wild animal on someone else's property without such landowner's written consent."

If convicted, a fine of up to R10 000 can be imposed, or a jail sentence of up to two years, or both.

"The use of firearms to shoot wild animals in an urban area may possibly be contraventions of the Firearms Control Act and municipal regulations.

"The illegal shooting of baboons in an urban area poses a risk to other people's safety and property. CapeNature strongly disapproves of such behaviour."

Van Rhyn says the shooting of baboons does not necessarily reduce conflict. Residents in neighbourhoods adjacent to areas that offer habitat for wild animals, can expect that baboons will visit the urban area from time to time.

Residents in such areas should help ensure that their properties do not offer sources of food for baboons.

The incident happened in Dahlia Street.