Update on the Cape Peninsula Baboons
By Karin Saks
In 1990, following the culling of an entire troop of baboons in
Kommetjie, the Kommetjie Environmental Awareness
Group (KEAG) was formed. Through the efforts of KEAG, the Baboon Management
Team was started, which essentially involved all the relevant authorities to
find management options for resolving conflicts between humans and baboons on
the southern peninsula of Cape Town (Mail and Guardian, January, 2005).
Based
on population censuses from 1998 and 1999 (Kansky and Gaynor 2000) which showed
an apparent high birth and mortality rate coupled with a highly skewed adult
male to female ratio, it was suggested that the baboon population was under severe human
predation pressure and therefore in need of management intervention (Beamish,
E.K. 2009). In her booklet, Baboons on the
Cape Peninsula, 2002, Kansky described the Cape Peninsula population as
critically endangered (according to Red Data list criteria) as there were less
than 250 mature individuals left.
Age/sex
ratios of the Cape Peninsula were recorded between 2005 and 2008 showing that
66% of the troops had one or no adult males due to high mortality in the late
1990’s leading to a skew in the male to female ratio at 1:8. Humans were seen
to be responsible for the skewed adult sex ratio which resulted in a higher
alpha male turnover and increased rate of infanticide (Kansky and Gaynor 1999;
Peterson pers.comm. 2008).
This
resulted in concerns that extinction of the population was likely if high mortality
rates of males continued and various measures were introduced: Field rangers were used to chase two of
the raiding troops away from urban areas. Government authorities, consultants,
members of the public and NGOs formed the Baboon Management Team (BMT). The BMT
devised management plans and a strategy document which included an option as a
last resort to euthanise baboons that posed risks to humans. Although it was understood that euthanasia could be
used a last resort, this was not one of the BMT’s strategies. Various sources
draw comparisons between the BMT and BTT in terms of successful management of
the baboon population in spite of the fact there is no accurate comparison due
to the fact that the BMT managed two troops and was limited by financial
restraints at times.
Baboon
Social Structure Improves:
Ruth
Kansky noted in 2002 that when baboon monitors were present, they succeeded in
keeping baboons out of residential areas most of the time.
Illustration above: Baboons on the Cape Peninsula, Ruth Kansky, 2002
By
2003, the adult sex ratios had improved to 1:5 (Beamish, 2009) and by 2005 the
situation had further improved as the adult male to female ratio was 1: 3,5
(Beamish, 2009). By 2011, adult sex ratios showed further improvement at 1 male to 2.5 females (O Riain, Apr. 2011)
and improved further in 2015 at 1:3+ (Beamish, E.K.).
In 2010, Nature Conservation Corporation
took over the tender for managing baboons on the Peninsula with Human Wildlife
Solutions taking over in August, 2012.Although euthanasia had been a management
strategy for “raiding” baboons as a last resort while the BMT was managing two
baboon troops, this was lethal method was avoided. Various sources today attempt to defend the use of lethal
methods by comparing the health of baboons during the time the BMT managed two
troops (restrained by various financial difficulties) with the period whereby
euthanasia has become standard practice (2010 – 2019) yet these two periods are
incomparable.
Under the Lethal Protocol, adult and
subadult males appear to be the most targeted group. Because targeting male
baboons contributes to a skewed adult male to female ratio, and a healthy adult
male to female ratio is crucial to a healthy baboon population, killing
“raiding” baboons under the current protocol needs to be removed from the
management program while stronger measures are put in place that encourage
residents not to harm or kill baboons.
The
2019 population census shows that the adult male to female ratio is 1 male to
8+ females indicating that the baboon social system has been damaged.
By June, 2019, the adult sex ratio has
returned to the same state it was in during the late nineties when stakeholders
realized that protective measures were desperately needed.
The Baboon Social System –
Crucial to a Healthy Population:
The Cape Peninsula baboon
population has challenging characteristics that are specific to the area that
contribute to unhealthy populations. However within this framework, for the
conservation, health and welfare of the Cape Peninsula baboons, it would be
beneficial to strive for baboon troops that are as healthy as possible. Without
this, the baboon social system will continue to break down, become more and
more dysfunctional and then lead to extinction.
The social system of baboon
troops is more important for determining the health of a population than the
amount of individuals.
The chacma baboon has a
multi-male multi-female social system.
A
troop is not made up of autonomous, unrelated individuals and therefore
evaluating a baboon population solely in terms of numbers gives an inaccurate
picture. On the contrary, a healthy baboon troop is reliant on a cohesive
social system of bonded allies and families Healthy baboon troops have healthy
behavior that is not only necessary for conservation but is crucial when
baboons live close to human areas.
The health of a baboon troop
is measured by the sex/age ratio of individuals with an acceptable adult sex
ratio being 1 male to 3 (or 4) females. An absence of adult and/or subadult
males is a strong indication that the fragile, cohesive social system required
for a healthy functional baboon troop has been broken down.
Human Intervention:
Predation generally accounts
for 5-10% of the deaths of certain primate populations (Kansky, 2002). Although
there are no natural predators, the Cape Peninsula baboons face death and
injury when electrocuted on pylons, hit by vehicles, attacked by dogs, shot
with pellets or bullets, poisoned or drowned. The Cape Peninsula baboon
population is therefore most threatened by human intervention.
Targeting Age-Sex Classes:
Although the Lethal Protocol
claims not to target age/sex classes (see excerpt taken from the Lethal
Protocol below), the population censuses of 2018/2019 suggest this is not the
case.
The Role of Adult Males:
Males contribute to the group for various
reasons, one being that they deter the threat of infanticide. Troops that have
a skewed adult sex ratio that is biased towards females show slow growth
(Beamish, 2009). Female and male baboons form cooperative
friendships, another natural process that has been obstructed by the absence of
males.
Targeting Single/Dispersing
Males:
Males in a baboon troop
first leave the troop to move into another troop when they become sexually
mature. Males will do this a few times in their lives while the females stay in
their birth group for life forming the stable core. The reason for this is
genetic mixing.
These males are particularly
vulnerable at this stage as they do not have the protection or guidance of the
troop. As a result we often find that single males are drawn towards human
properties where they may opportunistically forage. These single dispersing
males appear to be the most targeted group under the Lethal Protocol. They are
not given the chance to get through the vulnerable dispersal process of moving
towards a new troop. Typically single dispersing males will follow the lead of
the troop once they have joined a new group, hence “raiding” behavior tends to
cease when this happens.
The natural process required
for genetic mixing which is seen when dispersing males leave their troops to
look for new ones is an important natural process that is obstructed when male
baboons are killed.
As a result of damaged social structures, in
spite of the number of individuals that is incorrectly used as a barometer to
measure the health of populations, the Cape Peninsula baboon population is
currently (again) heading towards extinction and new solutions are required to
protect them.
Adult Sex Ratio of Managed
Baboon Troops – June, 2019:
The June, 2019, the adult
sex ratio shows that 1 troop has no adult male (if we include the Misty Cliff
group, 2 troops do not have adult males), 3 troops have no subadult females and
3 troops have no subadult males.
There are 200 adult/subadult
individuals to 249 immature individuals: fifty more immatures than adults.
How the Health and Welfare
of Baboons is Compromised:
On their website, the
South African Baboon Forum (http://www.baboons.org.za/index.php/about-us/management),
states that their methods not only ensure “the safety of residents but also
the conservation, health and welfare of the baboons”.
If the goal is to truly work
for the conservation, health and welfare of the Cape Peninsula’s baboons, acknowledging
that human bias affects scientific research (whether it be conscious or not)
and the agenda underlying important decisions may need to be revisited at times
while exploring new solutions.
The
baboon social system is made of close groups of allies and families,
relationships that are negatively altered on various levels (from both a
psychological and conservation perspective) when individuals are removed from a
group by human predators.
Charles Darwin was one of the first scientists to write about the
existence and nature of animal emotions. He believed that
humans share universal emotive expressions and suggested that animals share these.
His observational approach has since developed into a more robust,
hypothesis-driven, scientific approach. The existence and nature of emotions
in animals are believed to be correlated with those of humans and
to have evolved from the same mechanisms (Panksepp, J.
(1982). ,"Emotions help animals to make choices". University of Bristol. 2010.,Turner,
J.,D'Silva, D.(2006), Wong, K. (2013).)
In her book Almost Human, Shirley
Strum pointed out that science in the past, paid little attention to
the emotional and mental lives of animals as these aspects were fraught with difficulty
and projection. As a result, animals were largely denied these qualities. In
doing so we were left with a misconception about other species. This applies to
our understanding of baboons, especially because of their reputation as
“problem causing animals”.
Recently, the study of nonhuman animal emotions has become more
legitimate.
Today, science recognises that primates have complex social lives and
are highly
intelligent creatures. Because of the specialized organ that is unique
to primates,
our brain, we can reasonably infer that there will be some behavioral
correlation
between ourselves and other primates. Primates are studied in the field
of biology,
psychology, and the bourgeoning science of evolutionary psychology in
order to
gain some understanding about human behavior. To give the baboons the
best chance we can, I suggest that the field of psychology is included in our
attempt to understand them. This will not only help with their health and
welfare but will impact positively on the environment (whether it be urban or
natural habitat) they survive in as well.
The
premise that “we share an emotional language” (Shirley Strum in Almost
Human) is illustrated in the photos below. These photos also clearly
show the stress involved when a member of the troop is lost.
.
Given that a baboon troop is made up of
close allies and families, it is reasonable to conclude that the manner in
which humans are damaging their social system by using lethal methods for
“raiding” baboons is causing emotional
and mental stress which further impacts on the ability of baboons to operate in
a healthy way.
Discussion:
If we accept that damage
caused to troop structures is likely to lead to the extinction of baboon
populations on the Cape Peninsula, new solutions are urgently required to
protect the remaining baboons.
