Troublesome South African Baboon Sent Away for Raiding Homes
2020-09-26
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1Kataza had a long record of criminal activity with Cape Town officials.
2So, when he organized a group of others to raid several homes outside the city, he was captured.
3Now, he sleeps at a local prison.
4But, there is a strong social media campaign that calls for his return.
5Kataza is a baboon. He is one of a few hundred urban baboons who live around Cape Town.
6They often create problems when they invade homes looking for food.
7They knock over waste containers, steal fruit and vegetables from gardens, and cause all kinds of trouble.
8Kataza's story is the latest example in Cape Town's ongoing problem of how to deal with the baboons.
9Normally, they live in the mountains that surround the city, but often they will come into town to look for food.
10There are around 15 troops in the greater Cape Town area which number about 500 baboons, say local experts.
11The city even has a Baboon Technical Team.
12Wildlife rangers chase baboons away from some neighborhoods by shooting paintball guns at them.
13The most troublesome primates are sometimes put to death.
14Kataza operated in the seaside village of Kommetjie, in southern Cape Town.
15After he was captured, rangers took him to the nearby area of Tokai.
16They hoped that he would become part of another, better-behaved troop and stop his troublemaking.
17Activists, however, want him to be taken home and reunited with his own troop.
18"#BringBackKataza" reads a sign posted by a road in Kommetjie.
19There's a Facebook page calling for his safe return.
20Kataza was unfairly singled out, said Jenni Trethowan.
21She runs Baboon Matters, a conservation organization in Cape Town that seeks ways for humans and baboons to peacefully co-exist.
22She wants him back in Kommetjie.
23"He's no worse than any of the other baboons. He's just an urban baboon," Trethowan said.
24Trethowan has spent many days observing Kataza since he was moved late last month.
25She said he has not joined the Tokai troop, is alone and appears to be unhappy.
26He now spends his days wandering through the streets, and his nights sleeping in the yard of a local prison.
27"He lowers himself over the prison wall, or just ambles through the gate," she said.
28Officials keep what they call "rap sheets" that list a baboon's bad acts and Kataza's was apparently extensive.
29They had watched him since April, when he raided five occupied houses.
30Officials decided to act after he led his troop on 15 raids through Kommetjie in July and August, they said.
31A local newspaper reports that Kataza's "rap sheet" said: "He generally solicited other individuals to join him in raiding town."
32Trethowan said the city is just blaming baboons for being baboons.
33Instead, Cape Town should take measures to ease the problem.
34Trash cans that baboons cannot get into would help, she said.
35"Baboons are criminalized for things that baboons do normally," Trethowan added.
36I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Kataza had a long record of criminal activity with Cape Town officials. So, when he organized a group of others to raid several homes outside the city, he was captured. Now, he sleeps at a local prison. But, there is a strong social media campaign that calls for his return. 2Kataza is a baboon. He is one of a few hundred urban baboons who live around Cape Town. They often create problems when they invade homes looking for food. They knock over waste containers, steal fruit and vegetables from gardens, and cause all kinds of trouble. 3Kataza's story is the latest example in Cape Town's ongoing problem of how to deal with the baboons. Normally, they live in the mountains that surround the city, but often they will come into town to look for food. 4There are around 15 troops in the greater Cape Town area which number about 500 baboons, say local experts. The city even has a Baboon Technical Team. Wildlife rangers chase baboons away from some neighborhoods by shooting paintball guns at them. The most troublesome primates are sometimes put to death. 5Kataza operated in the seaside village of Kommetjie, in southern Cape Town. After he was captured, rangers took him to the nearby area of Tokai. They hoped that he would become part of another, better-behaved troop and stop his troublemaking. 6Activists, however, want him to be taken home and reunited with his own troop. "#BringBackKataza" reads a sign posted by a road in Kommetjie. There's a Facebook page calling for his safe return. 7Kataza was unfairly singled out, said Jenni Trethowan. She runs Baboon Matters, a conservation organization in Cape Town that seeks ways for humans and baboons to peacefully co-exist. She wants him back in Kommetjie. 8"He's no worse than any of the other baboons. He's just an urban baboon," Trethowan said. 9Trethowan has spent many days observing Kataza since he was moved late last month. She said he has not joined the Tokai troop, is alone and appears to be unhappy. He now spends his days wandering through the streets, and his nights sleeping in the yard of a local prison. 10"He lowers himself over the prison wall, or just ambles through the gate," she said. 11Officials keep what they call "rap sheets" that list a baboon's bad acts and Kataza's was apparently extensive. They had watched him since April, when he raided five occupied houses. Officials decided to act after he led his troop on 15 raids through Kommetjie in July and August, they said. 12A local newspaper reports that Kataza's "rap sheet" said: "He generally solicited other individuals to join him in raiding town." 13Trethowan said the city is just blaming baboons for being baboons. Instead, Cape Town should take measures to ease the problem. Trash cans that baboons cannot get into would help, she said. 14"Baboons are criminalized for things that baboons do normally," Trethowan added. 15I'm Jonathan Evans. 16The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 17________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19troop-n. a social group of some kinds of primates 20rangers-n. a person who oversees and protects public lands and the animals in them 21primates-n.(pl.) a group of animals that includes monkeys, apes and humans 22amble-v. to walk slowly in a free and relaxed way 23solicit-v. to ask for participation, help or money