Back in March I stumbled upon an article reporting on how some South African farmers were having to battle the local baboons who had acquired a taste for Chardonnay grapes. Six months on, the situation is spiralling out of control, with some of the baboons taking advantage of partially fermented which have fallen from the vines.

Twenty full-time “baboon monitors” are currently employed to protect and to guide the animals away from exclusive suburban areas and vineyards, but there has been little success. After getting their fill, they retreat to the mountains to catch up on some sleep. To rub everyone’s nose in it, some don’t even make it home, passing out under vines and trees after consuming the fermented grapes.

One vineyard owner, who seems to have exhausted all attempts to rid the baboons, claimed that they are “becoming increasingly bold and destructive”, targeting not just grape vines, but building interiors and exteriors. Home-owners have been forced to live under siege or move out. In one case, a twelve-year-old boy was chased by three male baboons up a flight of stairs in his own home. Surrounded, he made a tearful phone call for help, whilst being perpetually pelted with fruit.

In the previous baboon blog post we considered solutions, including the introduction of predators to reduce population numbers, erecting signs to tell the baboons to ‘stop monkeying around’, and even having the wine industry employing the beasts for the harvest. It’s a well known fact that jobs bring stability and reduce crime.

Unfortunately it’s looking like the authorities will be taking the heavy handed option. Key troublemakers and ringleaders are being tagged and given three strikes before being humanely destroyed, to the horror of some human residents, and to the joy of others. The first victim of the controversial new rule was fourteen year old William, a large male who had been terrorising the coastal suburb of Scarborough for many years.

News Source: Telegraph.co.uk