Shot baboon in Secunda turns out to be a rogue male

SECUNDA – The baboon that was shot dead in Tugela Street today, 5 April, appears to have been a wild animal and not the suspected pet that escaped from a truck a few months ago.

The acting head of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority (MTPA) in Ermelo gave orders that the primate be put down. If it had been an animal that was smuggled into the country from Zimbabwe, it was to be considered smuggled into the country and had to be destroyed. The information received about that particular baboon was that a truck driver raised the animal since it was a baby and it travelled with him in the truck. It escaped from the truck while inside Sasol.

A Sasol employee at the fire station was on the scene today because he previously had interaction with the escaped animal.

However, when he did try to interact with the baboon in Tugela Street, the animal bared its teeth. Between curious bystanders, people trying to help and barking dogs, the animal moved up and down between Oranjerivier Street and Tugela Street, eventually halting on top of a roof in Tugela Street.

The Mpumalanga Department of Tourism and Parks, SPCA and Secunda Fire Brigade decided the only option was to shoot the animal.

Ms Jenneth Geel from the SPCA transported the carcass to a local vet to be examined.

This baboon was fairly old, very thin and showed no signs of having been held in captivity.

The vet concluded that the animal was a male who found an easy food source in town,” Ms Geel said.

The MTPA and the NSPCA will release a media statement soon.

Also read: Loose baboon was shot in Secunda