Residents were urged not to panic if they saw male baboon Jeffrey passing through a local park or backyard in the upcoming days.
“This is not a dangerous animal unless cornered. He is not seeking confrontation. His instinct is to move and find another troop,” explained founder of Claw [Community Led Animal Welfare] Cora Bailey.
She said Jeffrey was thought to have originated at the Cradle of Humankind and was in-transit. “There are troops of baboons there. When male baboons become adults, they have to leave the troops and become dispersing males in order to prevent inbreeding. “This is something that male baboons have done since the beginning of time.”
Bailey said these baboons commonly moved across the greenbelt but with rapid urbanisation it had become difficult for them to pass without humans noticing them.
“In the past, many baboons moved along through the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens area and passed along that way. Jeffrey is one of several baboons to have passed this way.” In recent days, he has been spotted in Victory Park, Emmarentia, Linden, Parktown North and was seen most recently in Parkview.
“He is not aggressive so people should not panic if they see him.” According to Bailey, he won’t be the last of the wild animals to be seen in the suburbs due to development. She urged security companies to refrain from chasing him since this hampered attempts to capture him. “He is not a criminal but just a baboon trying to find a troop.”
She said Claw was trying to monitor, track and dart him and had received a commitment from the Johannesburg Zoo to offer their assistance.
“We want to create awareness and ensure his safety in this transition until he finds a troop.”
Residents are urged to report any sightings of Jeffrey to Claw via WhatsApp (076 850 4466), preferably with a location pin and time of the sighting.
Related article: Baboon in Joburg north: What should you do?
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