Showing posts with label Baboons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baboons. Show all posts

Friday, May 14, 2010

Cape Town's Baboon Robbery Threat to Increase During Cup

Baboon-jacking is expected to increase in Cape Town during the World Cup, where visitors in unlocked cars are likely to become victims to Fred, the alpha male leader of a 26-member troop of protected baboons that routinely enters and robs cars.

"Every day, it happens," said Mark Duffell, leader of a team that tracks Fred's 26 member troop as they forage between Cape Point and the outskirts of the picturesque Simon's Town naval base and penguin colony.

"He'll hit four or five cars in like five minutes. Fred's
operation is to open car doors. He leaves normally with a handbag. Until he's satisfied he's got all the food, don't try get the bag back."

Cape Town on alert for baboon-jackers
Mail & Guardian
May 4, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Crafty Baboons a New World Cup Concern

Roving bands of mischievous baboons are being cited as a new concern for city officials when tourists descend on South Africa for the World Cup.

Officials in Cape Town, the country's top tourist destination, are trying to control the increasingly aggressive animals. On Tuesday 29 baboons raided four cars outside Simon's Town, a coastal neighbourhood. A baboon dubbed Fred, the leader of the group, opened unlocked doors and jumped through a window to search for food. He ransacked a bag in one car as a couple panicked over their passports. Others climbed on to car roofs looking for ways inside. Many people who stopped to watch had their own cars broken into by baboons.

"We spend the whole day basically rescuing tourists," said Mark Duffels, a volunteer who monitors the animals.

South Africa's marauding baboons add to World Cup worries
Guardian
November 25, 2009