Baboons back on Paarl Mountain?
2010-09-09
Lise Beyers
A SOLITARY baboon was spotted on Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve during the early morning hours of last Sunday. Reserve staff spotted the baboon, where it was roaming the Meulwater day braai and picnic site, turning over bins in search of food. The entire reserve was scanned for more baboon, but it was concluded that this was a loner. Later the afternoon, reserve management spotted the baboon in the vicinity of Kanonkop along the western section of the reserve. The baboon was again spotted on Monday and Tuesday morning when it returned to Meulwater and climbed up the Paarl Rock area. The sex of the baboon could not be determined. Baboons are omnivorous, feeding on fruit, roots, leaves, grass, flowers, insects, lizards, birds and their eggs. Baboons normally live in troops of up to 40 or 50 individuals, congregating at night in a chosen tree or cliff. They have very good hearing and eyesight. Baboons are always on the alert, very often associating with other animals, like Impala buck. Adult males can weigh up to 35kg and their life span is about 18 years. Baboons would normally not occur on Paarl Mountain because of the small size of the territory, its isolation from surrounding mountains, adequate food sources and the high disturbance by people. The last wildfire has however stimulated the growth of a lot of bulbous plants, which may be an attraction as food source for animals such as baboons. The last sighting of baboons on the reserve was about four years ago, in 2006, when reserve staff spotted it climbing against Gordon’s Rock. This is the first time it was spotted again. It is not known for how long the baboon will remain in the area, before returning to where it came from. The Drakenstein Municipality would therefore like to request of all visitors, especially hikers and cyclists to remain in groups and for children to remain under adult supervision when visiting the reserve, and to be extremely cautious if coming into contact with a baboon.
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