Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The first positive step to reduce the baboon problem in the south of Plettenberg Bay has been taken by Bitou municipality - it has started implementing measures to reduce the food source of baboons.

From Tuesday 11 June refuse collection in the area will be scheduled first and will start at 7.30am.

The area covered by the new plan is from the intersection of Robberg and Lismore roads to Piesang Valley road, up to Daedalus Reef Drive on the seaward side.

In July, the municipality is to introduce a "no bag" refuse policy, with only refuse from wheelie bins being collected.

Bitou municipality communications department said in a statement issued on Friday 7 June that the Plett south area is expected to be designated as a "no bag zone", due to the frequent baboon activity.

A council-approved solid waste by-law will kick in then.

Ward 2 councillor Dave Swart, in whose ward the area falls, said he had a meeting with the community service director and waste manager on 4 June.

"This is just one step that needs to be done with regard to the baboons. The reason they are in the suburbs is that it is easier for them to get food than in the wild.

"We need to try and reduce their food source - and that's one way of doing it."

Swart said a committee of residents had been formed that represents the various areas where there are problems.

Nature's Valley

He said the idea was for this committee, as residents, to originate a plan and implement measures similar to what has been done in Nature's Valley, "to control the baboon movement and try and stop the baboon movement into the residential areas".

A meeting was held a few weeks ago at which CapeNature and the Bitou environmental manager were present, explaining what the municipality could do and what CapeNature could do.

"One of the ways the municipality can help is by trying to ensure the refuse is out for as little time as possible by implementing the early-morning pick-up and ensure that the area is cleared first, reducing the amount of food that is available to baboons," said Swart.

It also depended on the residents to keep their food out of sight and try to discourage the baboons from coming into the suburbs.

In addition consideration is being given to employing or funding baboon monitors, similar to what Nature's Valley has done, to keep the baboons out of the residential areas.

"That is the only way forward, but it does need the residents' help," said Swart.

Residents have been asked to ensure that all their household refuse is placed outside their property before 7.30am. No refuse is to be put out the night before collection.

"The waste department envisages that they will be finished with collections by 10am, ensuring that there is no household refuse food source (for baboons) in the Plett south area after 10am," said the statement.

If residents miss the collection, they are requested to take their refuse indoors until the next week's collection, or to deliver their waste to the waste transfer station in Kwanokuthula, "free of charge".

From 2 July the municipality will implement the "no bag" collection policy.

'Forcing entry'

"Only refuse placed in wheelie bins or steel mesh cages will be collected. No loose bags will be collected at all. This is to remove the source of black bags that can be torn open by baboons and birds, prior them being collected," said the municipality.

"Residents are encouraged to secure their bins/cages so that baboons cannot access this.

"Removing the black bag food source may initially cause baboons to search for alternative food sources at residences."

The municipality has also urged residents to remove food standing in the open, or cover food inside their homes "that will be visible to baboons".

"This will prevent baboons from forcing entry into houses to access food," said the municipality.

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