On Friday, 25 September 2026, the Baboon Management Team reported an older adult female baboon in Betty’s Bay with an injury to her rear end. The baboon moved into the mountain shortly afterwards, preventing further assessment and immediate veterinary intervention. The team was instructed to continue monitoring her.
The following day, a resident reported an injured baboon in her garden via the baboon hotline. The team responded and identified the same female, who had an additional injury to her right forearm, with limited movement, bleeding and significant swelling.
The baboon was successfully cage-captured and taken to the Caledon Veterinary Clinic for veterinary assessment and treatment.
Her left rump had a large penetrating wound that was severely infected. She also had a deep and infected injury to her right forearm, with the bicep muscle torn off, as well as damage to the surrounding muscles and nerves. There were also two superficial penetrating injuries to her head. X-rays revealed no fractures.
It is difficult to confirm with certainty what caused her injuries, whether from a dog or another baboon. However, given the nature of the bite marks, particularly on the forearm, the injuries were more likely caused by a baboon.
Additionally, both her mandibular and maxillary molars were extensively worn down, with severe infection in the tooth roots. This was most likely due to her age and was also indicative of poor dental health resulting from prolonged access to unhealthy foods. She was underweight and in poor body condition.
Due to the infection in the rump, surgery on the forearm was not an immediate option. Prolonged antibiotic treatment would first have been required to clear the infection before surgery could be considered. The extensive damage to the arm muscles would also have required prolonged treatment, including bandaging and ongoing wound cleaning, which would have required repeated sedation over several weeks.
Given the severity of her injuries, her poor body condition, her age and the poor prognosis, together with the long road to an uncertain recovery, the decision was made to euthanise her.
