Cape Peninsula baboons

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Watchful baboon on the Cape Peninsula.

© Chris Marais

Baboon viewing in Cape Town can be very rewarding, but an important warning first: do not feed these animals because this leads to problem behaviour from these highly intelligent primates.

The Chacma baboon troops on the Cape peninsula are the only protected population of the species in the world. They mostly subsist on fruits, roots, bulbs, honey, insects and scorpions. During the low tide they may even be seen roaming the beaches, feeding on sand hoppers and shellfish - very unique behaviour for primates.

The Cape Peninsula baboons consist of eleven troops, distributed from the Tokai Forest in the southern suburbs of Cape Town to the famous Cape of Good Hope, which is part of the popular Table Mountain National Park. The groups vary in size from just seven individuals to large gangs of over 100.

The population is under increasing pressure from habitat decline and fragmentation, as well as conflict between humans and baboons, which occurs often.

The baboons frequently get harassed by tourists or tour operators, who throw out food to increase the chance of viewing the Cape baboons, despite road signs warning them not to. Baboons can be dangerous and are of course attracted to an easy meal. Visitors should not feed or tease them, because primates that have been conditioned to receive food may have to be eliminated.

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Research Unit is a group of scientists focusing their research on baboons in the peninsula and surrounding areas. Many of the studies are comparing the Cape population to other baboon populations in the country and are studying the relationship between the Peninsula baboons and their human neighbours.

Volunteers help the scientists in gathering information by following the troops on foot and collecting detailed behavioural data.