Beware of baboon –jackings!

Beware of baboon –jackings!

Motorists have been warned against stopping on the road between Simon’s Town and Cape Point to watch the baboons – these animals can open your car doors! Apparently these “hijackers” are not after your wheels, your jewellery, cellphones or money. They want your picnic.

Justin O’Riain, who heads the University of Cape Town’s baboon research unit and has witnessed some recent baboon-jackings, says there need to be prominent signs along the road warning people that baboons can open car doors and advising them to keep their doors locked. “It’s quite an incredible thing for a free-living, wild animal to do,” he said.

Phumeza Mgxashe, communications manager for the Table Mountain National Park, said on Sunday there were five signs between Miller’s Point and Smitswinkel Bay warning people not to feed baboons, and two information boards about baboons, which included a warning to keep car doors locked.

The Cape Times featured this interesting story. The sight of baboons and monkeys on our roads brings a smile to many a road user and is something that our international visitors will remember as “uniquely South African”

Visit the Arrive Alive Website for more info on “Avoiding animals on the road”.