The planning and development of a proposed baboon sanctuary on the Cape Peninsula are currently under way, the City of Cape Town has confirmed, as opposition grows from animal welfare organisations over plans to capture and confine two wild baboon troops.

The city’s response follows concerns raised by Animal Survival International (ASI), which reported that a member of the Cape Point Baboon Trust, who has publicly objected to the proposal, received a cease-and-desist letter from lawyers acting on behalf of the private landowner where the enclosure is intended to be built.

In a statement, ASI warned that legal pressure may be being used to discourage public opposition to the project.

ASI said the use of legal threats against critics marks a dangerous shift in conservation decision-making, where public participation and scientific debate are suppressed rather than encouraged.

The organisation said conservation outcomes should be driven by transparency, evidence and community engagement, not fear or intimidation.

In its statement, ASI said the issue goes beyond the fate of the baboons and raises broader concerns about the right of civil society to speak out when wildlife and public resources are affected.

The organisation urged authorities to prioritise ethical, science-led approaches to the conflict between human and wildlife, and to honour the coexistence-based strategies outlined in the Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan, including fencing, waste management and habitat protection.

Responding to questions on the status of the proposal, Gregg Oelofse from the city’s Environmental Management Department said the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, comprising CapeNature, SANParks and the City of Cape Town, has approved the intention to capture and relocate two baboon troops to a purpose-built sanctuary.

“The planning and development of the proposed sanctuary are currently under way,” Oelofse said.

“As part of this process, all required planning, approval and legislative obligations are being addressed. No relocation of either troop will occur until full compliance with all legislative requirements has been achieved and the purpose-built sanctuary is complete.”

Explaining the city’s position, Oelofse said the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Action Plan is guided by the principle that what benefits the baboon population also benefits people.

“The preparation of the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Action Plan has been centred on ‘what is best for the Peninsula baboon population is also best for people’,” he said.

“This Action Plan describes a range of actions that, if implemented, will result in a healthy, well-managed, sustainable, free-ranging Peninsula baboon population with minimal human conflict and a focused reduction on day-to-day aversive measures through securing baboon habitat and not permitting troops to live in marginal areas.”

Addressing objections raised by organisations and activists, Oelofse rejected claims that the baboons would be confined to inadequate space.

“The globally recognised enclosure standard for chacma baboons is 1.5 hectares per 20 adult baboons,” he said.

“The Cape of Good Hope Baboon Sanctuary will exceed this minimum guideline in order to better cater for the two troops. The claim that two troops will be placed in a single enclosure of one hectare is incorrect and misinformation.”

On the reported cease-and-desist letter, Oelofse said the city had no involvement.

“Any communication between the landowner and the Cape Baboon Trust constitutes a private matter exclusively between those parties, and the city has no involvement in this matter,” he said.

Oelofse added that should the sanctuary proceed, each troop would be housed in its own purpose built enclosure meeting or exceeding Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries standards.

He said the Action Plan also provides for sustained long-term management and oversight, with regular reviews and a formal review scheduled for 2030.

ASI said authorities now face a critical choice between pursuing what it described as a high-risk intervention or setting a global benchmark for ethical, science-led urban wildlife management. 

lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za

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