Baboon Management Overstrand

Publicly available monthly reports are produced about the baboon management project. These contain data regarding urban inucrsions and out of town records of the baboon troops in Hermanus (Voelklip and Vogelgat Troops) and Pringle Bay (Pringle Bay Troop), as well as a breakdown of hotline calls for the month. In addition to this, monthly, seasonal and daily trends of baboon behaviour are reported on.

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This monthly report covers the period from 1 to 28 February 2021.  Following the summer peak in January, the availability of ripe fruit on trees diminished during February, but still remained an attractant.  All of the managed troops spent 100% time out of town during February, and time in town for individuals also decreased.

The Voëlklip Troop significantly decreased its use of the eastern sleepsites, while increasing its use of the western and central sleepsites.  The troop also started foraging on Hamilton Russel Vineyards this month.  This is in contrast to last year, when the troop continued to make use of its eastern sleepsites during January and February and only started moving towards the north-western side of its range during March.  This earlier westward trend may be related to the Vogelgat Troop periodically sleeping at some of the eastern sleepsites above Voelklip this month.

For the sixth consecutive month, the Vogelgat Troop spent 100% of its time out of town. There was however a noted increase in the number of attempts made by members of the troop to approach the urban edge, and individual baboons or small groups (two to three individuals) managed to access the urban area.

The Pringle Bay Troop spent 100% time out of town this month.  No urban incursions were recorded for the troop in February.  Two non-urban  incursions were recorded for PBF3 this month, when houses around the Buffels River Dam were entered by this adult female in search for human derived food.  The troop roosted and foraged exclusively in the northern part of its home range and interactions were recorded with neighbouring troops.

Interactions between the regularly managed troops and neighbouring troops have occurred for many years.  In this report HWS has started to record in order to include these incidents, as well as incidents when these marginal troops have entered the urban area or its borders.  The Onrus Troop was radio collared on 27 January because it was regularly visiting the edge of town above Berghof Estates.   Since then the virtual fence has been activated twice and the Onrus Troop has not entered the urban area at all.  The Hamilton Russell Troop has been encountered many times by the Voelklip Troop and it has been observed above Hermanus Heights on a few occasions, but as a troop it has never been observed in town.

In Betty’s Bay there are two troops that are currently raiding the urban area, but are not managed.  The main Betty’s Bay Troop will soon come under official management, but the details of this still need to be finalized.  Another troop, the Hangklip Troop, has started entering the Silver Sands area of Betty’s Bay regularly in search for human derived foodstuffs (HDF’s).  HWS is monitoring this troop’s movements in order to determine if management of the troop is required.