The saga of Kataza, the male baboon forcibly removed from his troop by the City of Cape Town’s baboon management team, Human and Wildlife Solutions (HWS), continues.

Earlier in the week, we covered how Kommetjie residents were up in arms about the fact that Kataza was taken from his troop, which is regularly seen around the Slangkop area, and dropped off in Tokai.

Sightings of the baboon in both Tokai and Constantia indicated that he was “visibly and obviously very stressed and anxious and hungry”, and calling out for his troop, which was reportedly doing the same in Kommetjie.

A Facebook page, Bring Kataza Home, was created, to monitor sightings and keep everyone up to speed with discussions between HWS and Baboon Matters.

UCT ecologist Professor Justin O’Riain, speaking with CapeTalk, argued that Kataza was “leading a splinter group”. He’s quoted below:

“In this case, I think the City got it right. He is a young male and contrary to all the reports, he has not sired any offspring. So if there are offspring there they are not his yet. There may be some in incubation but they have not arrived”…

He says Kataza has been moved to an area where the population of baboons is far bigger and will provide potential mates and social connections for him.

“The area is a much more productive one, it has got more food. It’s an area any baboon would really want to be…and there are lots of females.”

Yesterday, footage was shared showing Jenni Trethowan, from Baboon Matters and dubbed the ‘baboon whisperer’, leading Kataza through the Silvermine Reserve and up Ou Kaapse Weg, in an effort to reunite him with his troop:

Residents then gathered in support, leading to a “showdown” with HWS, who had planned on capturing Kataza using traps.

In the video below, filmed yesterday afternoon, Jenni outlines the reassurances she says she received from HWS:

As of 11AM today, this update was issued:

The Baboon Matters Facebook page has posted that “Jenni is in meetings with SPCA”, and requested that “if you happen to witness anything please record it.”

One of the comments on the post states that “Kataza is outside Bootleggers, Tokai”, and that “HWS is also there along with people concerned for Kataza’s welfare”.

If you want to keep up to speed with the latest, keep an eye on the Bring Kataza Back Facebook page, as well as Baboon Matters.

[sources:capetalk&bringkatazahome&baboonmatters]