On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, a deceased young male baboon was found in Silversands, Bettyโs Bay, and reported to the Baboon Hotline later that afternoon. The Baboon Management Team responded to the site and conducted an investigation.
No blood trail or immediate signs of foul play were evident. The body was collected and taken to the Veterinarian for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
The autopsy results revealed a small penetrating wound on the right side of the chest. X-rays and further post-mortem examination confirmed a penetrating wound to the right caudal lung lobe, resulting in a haemothorax, which ultimately caused the death of the baboon.
A projectile was removed, confirming that this was the cause of death.
A projectile was removed, confirming that this was the cause of death.
An enquiry docket has been opened with the SAPS in Kleinmond. All available information, including the recovered projectile, has been handed over to assist in the investigation. Members of the public who may have any information that could assist the investigation are urged to contact Kleinmond SAPS on 028 271 8200.
Baboon management:
Residents are reminded that Overstrand Municipality holds the necessary permits and training to implement its baboon adaptive management plan, using non-lethal and non-harmful tools and techniques.
It is an offence to hunt a baboon without authorisation.
Such illegal activities could result in penalties such as a fine not exceeding R10 000 or to two yearsโ imprisonment, or to both such fine and imprisonment. The discharging of an airgun or firearm in a built-up area is a contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 and conviction may result in up to five yearsโ imprisonment and the convicted person being declared unfit to possess firearms.
Such illegal activities could result in penalties such as a fine not exceeding R10 000 or to two yearsโ imprisonment, or to both such fine and imprisonment. The discharging of an airgun or firearm in a built-up area is a contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 and conviction may result in up to five yearsโ imprisonment and the convicted person being declared unfit to possess firearms.
Shooting baboons not only inflicts unnecessary pain on the animal but also disrupts their natural behaviour and the delicate social balance within their troop. Humane and non-lethal methods of managing human-wildlife conflict are needed that safeguard both animal welfare and community safety.
All residents are encouraged to work together to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
For more information on baboon-proofing, keeping baboons off your property, or your legal rights as property owners, please contact the Overstrand Baboon Hotline at 069 151 5962.
—
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
By eliminating food sources in town, the troop will have less reason to return. These actions should complement the adaptive management plan. All residents are urged to work together to prevent future incidents.
—
๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐
Overstrand Municipality officially opened an inquiry docket with Kleinmond SAPS on 5 February 2026, following the discovery of an adult female baboon found deceased in Pringle Bay at the beginning of December 2025.
The delay in opening the inquiry docket was due to the need for confirmation from relevant organisations on the correct ordinances under which the inquiry should be conducted. This was necessary to ensure a thorough and effective investigation by SAPS, both for this case and for future incidents. Additionally, the closure of many offices over the December and January holiday period further contributed to the delay.
Releasing the cause of death to the public before the docket’s official opening could have compromised the integrity of the investigation.
๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐
On 1 December 2025, a dead adult female baboon was discovered in Pringle Bay. Upon initial observation, no immediate or obvious signs indicating the cause of death were evident. There were no signs of poisoning, such as foaming of the mouth or a swollen tongue, nor were there signs of gut compaction, such as a swollen stomach.
Additionally, there were no visible signs of entry wounds, such as those caused by shooting, and no blood trail or indications of foul play were found. The only injury visible at the location in the field was a small wound on the tail itself.
Additionally, there were no visible signs of entry wounds, such as those caused by shooting, and no blood trail or indications of foul play were found. The only injury visible at the location in the field was a small wound on the tail itself.
The body was collected and sent to a veterinarian for further examination. The veterinarianโs examination revealed that her mucous membrane was very pale, with two recent wounds; one on the tail and one next to the anus. The autopsy showed a large blood clot caused by internal bleeding in the peritoneal space around the recto-anal junction.
Three projectiles were retrieved from this same area. The blood loss could have been the cause of death, and the bleeding itself could have been caused by a sharp object or a projectile, but this could not be confirmed. X-Rays revealed a total of five additional projectiles in the rest of the body, none of which caused any recent wounds or bleeding. All other organs appeared normal.
Three projectiles were retrieved from this same area. The blood loss could have been the cause of death, and the bleeding itself could have been caused by a sharp object or a projectile, but this could not be confirmed. X-Rays revealed a total of five additional projectiles in the rest of the body, none of which caused any recent wounds or bleeding. All other organs appeared normal.
While the cause of death could not be definitively linked to any of the three projectiles and there are no current leads, the decision was made to proceed with opening an inquiry docket. All three projectiles, along with all available information, have been handed in at the Kleinmond police station.
Members of the public are encouraged to contact Kleinmond SAPS on 028 271 8200 with any information that may assist in the investigation.
Members of the public are encouraged to contact Kleinmond SAPS on 028 271 8200 with any information that may assist in the investigation.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
It is illegal to discharge a firearm in a residential area. Residents are reminded that the Overstrand Municipality holds the necessary permits and training to implement the adaptive management plan, which uses non-lethal and non-harmful techniques. Baboons are protected under the Nature Conservation Ordinance, and it is illegal to shoot or harm them.
Baboons have incredibly complex social structures and baboon deaths may disrupt the troopโs social dynamics. This disruption could lead to further changes within the troop, potentially causing additional splits and creating complications in managing the troop.
The Overstrand Municipality understands that residents may be frustrated with the ongoing situation in baboon-affected areas in the Overstrand, but stresses that resorting to illegal measures only exacerbates the problem. The strategic management plan is designed to protect both the baboons and the community, with the goal of moving the troop to their natural habitat outside the urban area, for extended periods of time.
To deter baboons from their property, residents can use garden hoses to spray water, as baboons dislike being sprayed in the face. Hoses with long-range attachments that spray water a decent distance, toy guns, water pistols, and loud noises like banging pots can also be effective. To avoid habituation, itโs best to vary the deterrents used. Alternatively, residents are advised to contact the Baboon Hotline (069 151 5962) to ask for assistance.
Residents are reminded, that successful baboon management requires everyoneโs co-operation.
๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ, ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐:
โข Baboon-proof their bins,
โข Heed the early warning system,
โข Close and lock windows and doors when the troop is nearby,
โข Avoid leaving out birdseed or food,
โข Pick ripening fruit from trees and bushes,
โข Enclose vegetable gardens and compost heaps.
By eliminating food sources in town, the troop will have less reason to return. These actions should complement the adaptive management plan. All residents are urged to work together to prevent future incidents.
๐๐จ-๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Residents are also reminded that management is imperative to increase the success of keeping baboons out of town for more extended periods of time. Residents are thus requested to not interfere with the baboon management teamโs management duties.
The more time the baboons spend out of town the better for the safety of the baboons as well as for the wellbeing of residents.
The more time the baboons spend out of town the better for the safety of the baboons as well as for the wellbeing of residents.
If residents require additional information on baboon-proofing, tips for keeping baboons off their property, or their legal rights as property owners, please contact the Baboon Hotline at 069 151 5962.
