Cape Town to relocate baboon troops to new sanctuary

The Cape Town city council has announced plans to round up and permanently relocate two troops of chacma baboons to a newly constructed sanctuary. As part of the management strategy, the animals will also undergo sterilization to address growing human-wildlife conflicts in the Cape Peninsula.

The decision follows a significant population increase; a 2025 census recorded 493 baboons, a one-third increase from 360 in 2000. The animals are increasingly encroaching on urban areas, where they enter unlocked vehicles, damage roofs, and raid homes and businesses for food. Residents in areas like Simon’s Town report that the presence of the animals has disrupted daily life and impacted property values.

The conflict is exacerbated by the geography of the Cape Peninsula, which leaves the baboons boxed between the protected Table Mountain National Park and expanding urban developments. While the city seeks to mitigate the nuisance, animal rights activists and scientists have criticized the move, arguing that the baboons should remain free in their natural habitat and that alternative non-removal solutions should be prioritized.