Cape town’s controversial baboon management plan includes fencing, relocation and euthanasia as last resort

Cape Town authorities have unveiled a contentious new strategy to address escalating conflicts between humans and chacma baboons that regularly venture into urban areas seeking food. The comprehensive plan has sparked fierce debate among animal welfare advocates who oppose its inclusion of euthanasia as a management tool.

The Cape Peninsula’s baboon population has surged dramatically from just 360 individuals in 2000 to over 600 in 2024, intensifying human-wildlife conflicts across the region. City officials propose a multi-pronged approach starting with non-lethal measures, including the installation of baboon-proof fencing monitored by trained rangers. However, baboons that breach the northern boundary would face “humane euthanization” under the plan’s guidelines.

The strategy also outlines relocation efforts, though officials acknowledge limited success prospects due to scarce suitable habitat. Some troops would be moved to mountain areas beyond the northern fence, while others would be housed in a specialized 1.5-hectare sanctuary where males would undergo vasectomies to control population growth. If relocated baboons return to urban areas or if sanctuary efforts fail due to welfare concerns or funding shortages, euthanasia remains the proposed solution.

Perhaps most controversially, the plan establishes strict population caps: 250 baboons for the northern subpopulation and 175 for the southern group. Should these limits be exceeded for more than six months, authorities would begin euthanizing animals, prioritizing those that are elderly, sick, or injured. This approach reflects the challenging balance cities worldwide face when managing expanding wildlife populations in increasingly urbanized landscapes.