The Baboon Plan

Baboons are frequenting the residential areas of Plettenberg Bay South.


The Plett Urban Baboon Plan aims to work towards a sustainable solution to ensure that Baboons remain out of residential areas and stay within wild green spaces.


A steering committee has been appointed, comprising one member each from the most affected areas.  Representation is still sought from the affected estates.


Steering Group Members


The Baboon Plan - Objectives

  • Investigate and devise a strategy to determine boundaries/lines which baboons should not be allowed to cross.
  • Determine where baboons should spend their time, i.e., feasibility of the Robberg Coastal Corridor Protected Environment.
  • Remove specific Alien Invasive Plant Species that are utilised by baboons as roosting or feeding areas near the wild-urban interface.
  • Cost an urban baboon monitoring programme that will achieve this objective.
  • Workshop Urban baboon monitoring programme with affected communities to develop sustainable solution going forward.
  • Implement an urban baboon monitoring programme.
  • Determine boundary lines
  • Appoint and train monitors to defend those lines
  • Educate residents and law enforcement/urban baboon monitors on how to respond to home invasions by baboons.
  • Law enforcement or monitor response team to respond to baboon home invasions and assist residents.
  • Awareness and communication regarding baboons and their encounters with people.
  • Survey current Waste Management practices within the affected area.
  • Send out notices to affected residents regarding required use of secured wheelie bins.
  • Environmental Monitors to respond to baboons accessing waste and clean-up and secure.
  • Awareness campaign to secure waste bins.
  • Awareness campaign to better manage and dispose of organic waste and recycling.
  • Review and amend waste by-law to provide for enforcement opportunities.
  • Undertake an awareness campaign with affected residents indicating measures that can be implemented to secure properties.
  • Liaise with CapeNature regarding response to illegal feeding of baboons and enforcement thereof.
  • Holiday and tourist accommodation are to inform tenants of periodic baboon encounters and that they are to please take steps to prevent baboons from accessing human food.

The Baboon Plan - Actions

Short Term

Gateway: Project Initiated
  • Analyse Baboon Reports to determine affected areas and trends
  • Section Plett South into 4 affected regions plus Estates
  • Define Urban/Wild interface and determine locations for effective borders across which baboons must not pass
  • Appoint predominately male EPWP Environmental Monitors
  • Monitors - Initial training - waste management
  • Implement means to monitor progress and effectiveness of plan
  • Initiate Residents Communications Plan for safety information and progress updates
  • Train EPWP Monitors - Basic Baboon Training
  • Identify and remove Alien Invasive Plant Species being used by baboons near the wild-urban interface
  • Appoint Steering Committee to drive process and to finalise medium term plans and longer term draft plans
  • Steering Committee to cost plans
  • Steering Committee to liaise with regulatory and statutory bodies to approve plans and seek financial assistance
  • Steering Committee to raise operating funds for medium term
  • Steering Committee to begin implementation of long term finance plan

Medium Term

Gateway: Short Term Funding In Place
  • Equip Monitors with uniforms, radios and other equipment according to plan
  • Train Monitors in use of equipment
  • Ongoing Recruitment of professional Monitors
  • Continue to monitor progress and effectiveness
  • Continue to update residents with safety information, progress and effectiveness

Long Term

Gateway: Long Term Funding In Place
  • Formal professional monitors recruited
  • Ongoing Monitor Training Program
  • Ongoing Recruitment of professional Monitors
  • Ongoing Maintenance of Monitor Equipment
  • Continue to monitor progress and effectiveness
  • Continue to update residents with safety information, progress and effectiveness
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