The popular Cape Town cycle tour is to be held on Sunday (12 March) and as the participants and visitors arrive in preparation for the event the peninsula is abuzz. 35,000 cyclists are registered to take part. The lead up on the roads with the mix of cyclists, motorists, heavy vehicles, tour buses and wildlife sometimes result in dangerous situations. The stretch of road between Millers Point and to the top of the Smitswinkel rise has been particularly challenging especially with it’s blind rises and sharp bends. A couple of days ago, dodging cyclists and tour buses we came across this scene where a troop of baboons scattered across a section of road and motorists had pulled off to get a close-up viewing. Generally this troop’s movements are curtailed by appointed rangers, but this day they had given them the slip. What followed was inevitable, car windows were open and baboons being opportunistic went to investigate. A female baboon made off with a backpack, which fortunately she surrendered when chased. Luckier still is that the adult male baboon following behind did not challenge the man as he retrieved the bag. It’s doubly disappointing that careless motorists aren’t penalised or fined as this particular troop is being “conditioned” through the use of noise / pain deterence to prevent raiding behaviour. If motorists abided by the conservation laws and kept their car windows up and doors locked the baboons would have a better chance of not becoming raiders.
Nature on the Edge 
The guy looks as though he is enjoying every minute of it! I’m sure I wouldn’t take my children that close to a wild and unpredictable animal… idiots!
You summed that up very well Jude! The mother rushed in to take the baby away from the father. …. too late though both children were traumatised.
I wonder if such thoughtless people could ever realise that the baboons will be punished for their indiscretions…
Sadly, i think not! Few people understand the consequences of their actions or understand the ways of wild animals.
Seeing your images made my blood boil! Why, oh why do people continue to show contempt for the law by openly disobeying it? This family were really lucky that the baboon didn’t react and put them all in danger …
Isn’t it disquieting to see these scenes and know that all along the ‘people’ aspect in wildlife conservation awareness needed to be attended to despite the ‘re-training’ and culling of the ‘problem’ baboons? Cape Nature has always been the weak link in stepping up to it’s responsibilities in enforcing the laws. It was a pity that BLG’s input re the Baboon Protector Project wasn’t taken further. It was a good model in spreading awareness ( as you also proved with your consistent efforts) along the road in that scenic stretch where so many motorists/visitors stop.
I’m also hearing that there are more incidents of raiding at Millers and Black Marlin, which all goes to prove that the very nature of baboons is to exploit their environment for best food returns. What is also worrying in this specific car raid is that it was initiated by a female baboon carrying a baby. So lucky for the man that the male baboon didn’t react in a show of dominance assertion.
Will send this photo sequence onto CN and the BLG for what it may be worth? But i don’t hold much hope that anything will come of it.
and to Baboon Matters?
i’ll try HWS; tourists in particular are ignorant, not understanding the ways of our wiley baboons.
Liz, please report this incident to CapeNature Law Enforcement, so they can follow up …
I am not hopeful that anything will come of reporting this to CN.
And we like to think we are smarter than baboons, and yet we seem to be so slow to learn and so unable to alter our behaviour, even after reasons for doing so are carefully explained! However, I do worry that many nature “documentaries” give the wrong signals when they show presenters interacting with wild animals at close quarters. There are mixed messages and bad examples out there, unfortunately.
i can’t believe that couple letting their kids anywhere near the troop, what absolute idiots!!!
Sadly this happens all too frequently!
tourists who have no idea what a huge risk that was for small children?
That was my impression – French speaking and completely oblivious to any danger.
You know, we often intrude on the space of our fellow animals. Yet, we then try and call the animals savage and dangerous
Yes true; we’re becoming too far removed from the laws / lore of the jungle.
Too far.
I have recently had a close encounter with an enormous male baboon at Tsitsikamma. It came out of the bush with no warning and stole some of the ingredients I was about to cook with! This problem arises because sp many tourists feed them. The Honorary Ranger on duty must have got hoarse warning people NOT to do so. As angry (taken aback really) as I was, I cannot really blame the baboon.
Aren’t they sneaky opportunists! It’s a difficult job policing baboons and humans; i’m intrigued that baboons no matter where in the country will try their luck especially around picnic sites. And they can be pretty persistent too.
I clicked “like” but really, people need to think these things through.