Conflict Solutions
Make the area less attractive or completely inaccessible to primates;
Baboon Proof Fencing;
Keep baboons off your property completely by installing a baboon-proof electric fence.
Find Out More
Baboon Proof Fences do exist.
Baboon Deterrents & Baboon-Proofing
We have a responsibility to minimise our impact on the natural world & protect biodiversity.
Baboons are a key-role-player in ensuring a healthy biodiversity1 and due to humans destroying their habitats2, persecuting them along with climate change it has been predicted that that chacma baboons are more under-threat than first predicted and new published science has predicted they could be extinct by 20703.
As we encroach onto wildlife habitats; building our homes and farms on top of historical baboon foraging ranges it is our responsibility to ensure we do not cause the baboons which we share the space with to become 'problematic', or encourage them to be 'habituated', or evoke 'raiding behaviour'.
Often, we decide to build our homes exactly where the baboons also prefer to live, we are both primates afterall. We both like big shady trees, perhaps nestled onto the mountain side or with a panoramic view across the bush, along a pretty river or claim the view of a picturesque water source.
Remember;
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Baboons need to visit a water source a few times a day, so if you put your home right by their existing one or install one in a baboon habitat, expect company.
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Baboons like to sit on the highest points to scan the area for threats; so if your home is that highest point, it will be very attractive to baboons.
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Big shady trees are often used as sleeping sites, feeding spots or shade for siestas.
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Food will attract baboons.
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Baboons notice EVERYTHING; so keep your curtains closed / food out of sight / doors & windows locked.
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Baboons will try every way possible to get to food; do not under-estimate them and do not encourage them.
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Baboons are heavy, clumsy and love to play; they break things unintentionally and can easily cause damage to roofs, garden furniture, guttering etc., so adapt your home, try to deter them and do not attract them.
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Baboons were often there first & their ranges can change dependable on the season; if you put your home in an area which is important for baboons to survive (food / water / sleep / shade / view) you should expect baboons to pass by. So ensure your home is not attractive to baboons; it is your responsibility to minimise your impact on the natural world around you.
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Luckily, there are simple and permanent solutions to co-exist and keep them off your property.
Baboon-Proof Your Home or Enclose it in a Baboon-Proof Electric Fence
Baboons and your garden
Baboons are attracted to food, so simple solutions;
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Remove all food sources
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Make food sources inaccessible & out of view
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Sturdy cages with locked doors for compost and vegetable patches
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Close your curtains
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Baboon-proof bins or caged refuse areas
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Make your property unattractive
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Remove all food sources
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Put on water sprays
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Make your property inaccessible
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via a baboon-proof electric fence
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BIRD FOOD
Remove bird feeders; they attract birds, mice, rats, squirrels, monkeys and baboons.
Or build a baboon-proof fence around your property.
COMPOST
Rotting fruits and veg attracts mice, rates, birds, monkeys, baboons and more.
Use compost bins with lockable lids or build a wildlife proof cage to compost in.
Or build a baboon-proof fence around your property.
VEGETABLE PATCH
Attract birds, mice, rats, squirrels, monkeys and baboons.
Build a strong cage around it.
Or build a baboon-proof fence around your property.
FRUIT TREES
If you don't want baboons, don't attract them with delicious fruits.
You'll need to build an electric baboon-proof fence around your property or remove your fruit trees.
LITTER
Attract birds, mice, rats, squirrels, monkeys and baboons.
This is detrimental to the health of wildlife & the planet.
Do not litter. Simple.
PET FOOD
Pet food outside attracts birds, mice, rats, squirrels, monkeys and baboons.
Keep it inside, out of view and keep the doors locked.
Or build a baboon-proof fence around your property.
RUBBISH BINS
Poorly managed waste attracts birds, mice, rats, squirrels, monkeys and baboons.
This is detrimental to the health of wildlife & the planet.
Modify your bin to make it baboon proof or build a strong cage for your bins.
ATTRACTS BABOONS
Food attracts baboons; simple.
Don't want to attract baboons? Remove all food sources or make it inaccessible via cages or baboon-proof fencing.
Useful tips;
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Baboons and dogs - tips
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Build a baboon proof vegetable patch
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Erect a baboon-proof fence
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Baboon-proof bin / modifications
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A baboon-proof bin-cage
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Baboon-proof your windows
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Baboons and sound deterrents
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Pro's and con's of "feeding stations"
Want to get in touch about a situation we might be able to help with?
References
1. Tew, Eleanor & Landman, Marietjie & Kerley, Graham. (2018). The Contribution of the Chacma Baboon to Seed Dispersal in the Eastern Karoo, South Africa. African Journal of Wildlife Research. 48. 10.3957/056.048.023002.
2. Stone, Olivia & Laffan, Shawn & Curnoe, Darren & Herries, Andy. (2013). The Spatial Distribution of Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus) Habitat Based on an Environmental Envelope Model. International Journal of Primatology. 34. 10.1007/s10764-013-9669-9.
3. Hill, SE, Winder, IC. Predicting the impacts of climate change on Papio baboon biogeography: Are widespread, generalist primates ‘safe’? J Biogeogr. 2019; 46: 1380– 1405. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13582