POLOKWANE – A juvenile male baboon has made Bendor his home over the last week with many sightings by residents in the area.
The Polokwane Review first reported on the primate last Wednesday (Aug 10) after he was spotted on the roof of a house in Bendor Drive.
Read more: [WATCH] Baboon spotted on roof of house in Bendor Drive
Since then, the baboon has been spotted on the Soetdorings plots, Cycad Estate, Bendor Village, Sunset Boulevard, Natorp Street and other areas.
Review spoke to Wenessa Nunes, who has 10 years extensive knowledge working with primates, who said the baboon is dispersing from his troop.
“Every year, males are forced to leave troops if there is already an alpha male and he is simply migrating through the city,” she said.
Nunes said Polokwane happens to be in the middle of their habitat and that residents should leave the animal to cross through without distracting him.
“The worse thing to do is to try and capture, approach or follow him, but to rather let him pass through incident free. People should also not try to feed him or leave food out as he will return for it and forage” she said.
Nunes said it is strange that he is still roaming the area and that he may be confused about the direction he is meant to be travelling in.
“At this point, the baboon is more scared of humans than we are of him. It is important to note that he poses no danger as long as he is left alone.”
She urged residents to not follow the baboon as it is chasing him off the path he wants to go in and is prolonging his time in the area.
“He was originally moving towards Moria, but seems to have regressed again so he could exit towards Ysterberg. We need to give him room to leave Bendor to see where he heads,” she said.
Nunes said baboons do not travel at night, which is why he has been spotted during the day.
She gave the following tips:
- Keep each other informed via social media if the baboon is spotted. (Where, when etc).
- Do not approach him.
- Keep pets inside and do not keep pet food out in the open.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
Nunes said residents in the area can contact her at 082 302 0288 if they spot the baboon.
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) spokesperson Zaid Kalla confirmed on Saturday that the primate was in the area.
