The Granadilla and Water Berry trees, along with other fruiting trees such as Eugenia, are still in fruit across Overstrand urban areas, including Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and especially in Voëlklip and Fernkloof residential areas.
During this time, baboons naturally become more active in residential areas as they search for easy food sources.
Once they find accessible fruit, bins, or gardens, they will remember the location and return repeatedly, making prevention more challenging.
It is therefore of vital importance that all involved keep baboons from consuming human food, as best possible, by denying them access to refuse and using baboon-proof bins.
Residents and visitors can also help manage baboon activity by following these steps:
- Remove all ripe and ripening fruit and berries from trees
- Fully secure and properly enclose vegetable gardens and compost heaps
- Secure waste in fully secured baboon-proof bins. (If baboons can open a bin, it is not fully baboon proofed)
- Do not feed birds or other wildlife
- And most importantly, do NOT feed baboons
Additional measures include keeping doors and windows locked when leaving home.
By following these baboon-wise practices, residents can reduce conflicts, protect gardens, and live more favourably with local wildlife while enjoying the fruiting season.
Feeding wildlife, including baboons, is prohibited under the Cape Nature Ordinance of 1974, as it encourages them to remain in residential areas and complicates management efforts.
Overstrand Municipality encourages residents to make use of local WhatsApp sighting groups to share regular updates on baboon movements. These contributions are valuable in alerting households to the presence of baboons and allowing residents to take timely precautions.
Residents can contact the Baboon Hotline at 069 151 5962 to request to be added to these sighting groups for the Hermanus region, as well as to report baboon sightings, request immediate assistance to move baboons from their property, and receive additional guidance on baboon-proof bins, general baboon-proofing, and baboon-wise living.
