Article: Baboons pest Cape Town

Measures have been implemented to deal with recent raids by baboons into Gordon's Bay, the City of Cape Town said on Monday.

A troop of baboons had in recent weeks been seen regularly entering Gordon's Bay and foraging in the town's residential area, including raiding refuse bins, the city said in a statement.
 
Funny how man gets to encroach on the living space of other animals and gets to call them pests. . .
 
There were big problems with the Tokai group coming down into the suburbs and causing havoc at the shopping centres...

What i have heard is that the NCC (Nature Conservation Corporation) had the contract to monitor them and keep them in their own areas as to keep peace between residents and the baboons. Another company has apparently been appointed the contract now, not sure why, so now there is a months period where there is no one monitoring them while the change over happens and this is why they have been coming into the suburbs off the mountains...
 
thestaggy said:
Funny how man gets to encroach on the living space of other animals and gets to call them pests. . .
Click to expand...

You cant always blame man.

Here we have vervet monkeys and the things are a nuisance. They have no natural predators and multiply to massive troops, there is plenty of natural areas for them but they stay in the suburbs as it's much easier to go help themselves to food in peoples houses. They are aggressive and not scared of people, I've seen them attack pets (smaller dogs & cats) and they cause damage to property. You can put a million hectare jungle next to a residential area and they will prefer the residential area.

Ever seen those tiny little alaskan one horse towns in the middle of the wilderness? They have similar problems with bears.

Animals are opportunistic and will gladly move in to places with humans as it's easy pickings.
 
In the countryside they are seen as vermin. You go down to the farm house and you get shot - end of story. Strange how they stay far far away.
 
ponder said:
You cant always blame man.

Here we have vervet monkeys and the things are a nuisance. They have no natural predators and multiply to massive troops, there is plenty of natural areas for them but they stay in the suburbs as it's much easier to go help themselves to food in peoples houses. They are aggressive and not scared of people, I've seen them attack pets (smaller dogs & cats) and they cause damage to property. You can put a million hectare jungle next to a residential area and they will prefer the residential area.

Ever seen those tiny little alaskan one horse towns in the middle of the wilderness? They have similar problems with bears.

Animals are opportunistic and will gladly move in to places with humans as it's easy pickings.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. Human encroachment is the root cause of human-animal confrontations. Habitat destruction in other areas also tends to drive animals away from their previous habitats into new ones. Animals don't just decide to pack their bags and leave their terriotry and head for the city/town. The city/town comes to them.

Are you aware of oil developments in Alaska? Wilderness destruction is very real in Alaska and that is driving Grizzlies away from their habitats. And naturally any animal will gravitate to the easiest source of food when it moves/migrates. So do humans. So, you've destroyed his habitat and he needs to relocate. He comes across a human settlement that has a readily available supply of food and he settles in. Now he becomes the big bad, err, Bear?

Why don't those monkeys have natural predators? What are the chances that the natural predator has been driven off/eradicated by the presence of man? I'll tell you; very high. The increase in the population numbers of Vervets is directly attributable to the unnatural decrease in numbers of its predators. Animals commonly considered to be the Vervet Monkey's primary predators include Leopards, Servals, Caracals, Pythons and large Eagles. Four of those will rarely be found anywhere near human population developments as all of them pose a threat to humans as well.

And honestly, take a look at Natal, where they are considered a nuisance. Resedential and commercial (hotels, holiday homes) developments have encroached on their natural habitats and you have the cheek to label them as a problem? And as pointed out, our presence will lead to the disappearance of any predator that is able to control the numbers of the monkeys. Seen any Leopards or Caracals crusing around your neighbourhood lately? Thought so.

In all honesty our developments destabilise the natural order of everything around us. Call it misanthropic if you will, but the truth is we (humans) are the root cause of most of our own problems and cock things up for everything else in the process.
 
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thestaggy said:
Nonsense. Human encroachment is the root cause of human-animal confrontations. Habitat destruction in other areas also tends to drive animals away from their previous habitats into new ones. Animals don't just decide to pack their bags and leave their terriotry and head for the city/town. The city/town comes to them.

Are you aware of oil developments in Alaska? Wilderness destruction is very real in Alaska and that is driving Grizzlies away from their habitats. And naturally any animal will gravitate to the easiest source of food when it moves/migrates. So do humans. So, you've destroyed his habitat and he needs to relocate. He comes across a human settlement that has a readily available supply of food and he settles in. Now he becomes the big bad, err, Bear?

Why don't those monkeys have natural predators? What are the chances that the natural predator has been driven off/eradicated by the presence of man? I'll tell you; very high. The increase in the population numbers of Vervets is directly attributable to the unnatural decrease in numbers of its predators. Animals commonly considered to be the Vervet Monkey's primary predators include Leopards, Servals, Caracals, Pythons and large Eagles. Four of those will rarely be found anywhere near human population developments as all of them pose a threat to humans as well.

And honestly, take a look at Natal, where they are considered a nuisance. Resedential and commercial (hotels, holiday homes) developments have encroached on their natural habitats and you have the cheek to label them as a problem? And as pointed out, our presence will lead to the disappearance of any predator that is able to control the numbers of the monkeys. Seen any Leopards or Caracals crusing around your neighbourhood lately? Thought so.

In all honesty our developments destabilise the natural order of everything around us. Call it misanthropic if you will, but the truth is we (humans) are the root cause of most of our own problems and cock things up for everything else in the process.
Click to expand...

Touche mate! +1
 
YEAH!! Us Cavemen forefathers never had problems with encroaching on other species terrain.

// See Sabretooth tiger//
// Run //

It was so much better than todays world !!
 
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