🚀 go-pugleaf

Africa, South Africa, Cape Town, Cape Point Nature Reserves, Simonstown, Welcome
Glen

The Chacma baboon species found living wild in the Table Mountain range of the Cape
Peninsula has for many years been under the scrutinising eyes of the authorities,
and many civilians have killed or maimed the baboons when they enter the developed
rural areas adjacent to the mountains where they live to raid the settlements for
food. In the small neighborhood of Welcome Glen a glimmer of hope
to protect these animals has now sparked to life with the creation of the Welcome
Glen Environ Group. Since May of 2005 this group of concerned residents has been
working to create a public awareness of the problem, and has tried to raise funds
for the implementation and continuation of the solutions that has proved to be
successful over the past few years. When the baboons enter our neighborhoods, they
really make a mess by overturning refuse bins or entering homes that has open
windows or other points of access. Many people fear them so much that they shoot at
them with pellet guns and some even with hunting rifles. Most people just shoo them
away, but the damage of years of human retribution is evident in the condition of
the Local Welcome Glen and Da Gama park(adjacent neighborhood) troop. Recently there
has been some new births and the little ones running around are very fragile. Some
have been run over and killed by cars, some electrocuted by high power lines and
others die because of injuries related to human interaction.

The best way to prevent this human-baboon conflict has been proven to be keeping the
baboons out of the neighborhoods. There are currently about 10 men employed that
keep them out of the neighborhoods during the days, and they have been doing a
really wonderful job. There has however not been specific government funding for the
protection of these animals rendered by the Baboon Matters team, nor for the Baboon
Matters(employing the monitors) project, and although some funds were aquired from
certain conservational bodies, the funding well has dried up, and the men are out of
work, and consequently the baboons are back in town. Without funding to keep them
out of our neighborhoods, it seems they are once again easy targets, and nothing
more than baboons on death row. Hunting baboons through open windows are comon
practice for many local residents with silenced weapons, and all they need are close
enough targets. One resident was caught shooting a baboon with a pellet gun and the
authorities fined him the equivalent of about $1500(us)

For more info on the WGEG check the website at www.welcomeglen.org.za and if you
would like to see some of the injured and maimed baboons, I am currently working on
a link that will take you to a picture and movie page for reference in this regard.

I can only appeal to your sense of generosity in donating something, and even a very
small amount would suffice if enough people contribute. Hopefully we can get our
show back on the road so to speak, and guide the baboons back into the mountains
where they are safe from the damage some humans may do. As soon as paypal is
activated for the website, you are welcome to visit it and help support the
conservation of these wonderful animals. I will post a reply as soon as paypal or
another method of electronic payment is activated on the website.

Thank you for your support, and have a great 2006.

George G Mac Donald
Active committee member
Welcome Glen Environ Group
Welcome Glen
Simonstown
South Africa