Animal groups propose alternative to Kogelfontein baboon centre
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) is calling for an alternative approach to the proposed permanent captivity of the Waterfall and Seaforth baboon troops at the Kogelfontein Urban Wildlife Centre. WAPFSA has written to the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, SANParks and the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team to highlight what it describes as a... Read more → The post Animal groups propose alternative to Kogelfontein baboon centre appeared first on Cape Town E
AI summary
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) is calling for an alternative approach to the proposed permanent captivity of the Waterfall and Seaforth baboon troops at the Kogelfontein Urban Wildlife Centre.
WAPFSA has written to the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, SANParks and the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team to highlight what it describes as a concrete and constructive coexistence proposal.
The organisation says the alternative could allow the baboon troops to remain in their natural environment rather than being permanently confined at the proposed wildlife centre.
A different approach to managing the baboon troops
According to WAPFSA, the proposed alternative centres on an appropriately designed and strategically placed baboon-proof fence.
The organisation says the fence should be developed and assessed with the expertise of Dr Dave Gaynor, alongside effective waste management, ongoing monitoring and the use of vital community-based knowledge about the baboons.
WAPFSA maintains that these measures would form part of an approach aimed at supporting coexistence between people and wild animals.
The proposal comes as the organisation urges the relevant authorities to consider an alternative to capturing the Waterfall and Seaforth troops and placing them in permanent captivity at Kogelfontein.
Who is WAPFSA?
WAPFSA is a national network of 30 South African organisations that was established in 2017 to engage government on issues relating to the conservation and protection of wild animals and their natural environments.
Its members work across areas including animal protection, conservation, environmental justice, law, governance, climate justice and community advocacy.
The organisation says its positions are informed by scientific research, constitutional and environmental law, ethical and compassionate conservation practices, and a commitment to humane coexistence between people and wild animals.
Rhinos in Africa is among the organisations that form part of WAPFSA.
A call for coexistence
WAPFSA’s intervention focuses on whether measures such as fencing, waste management, monitoring and community knowledge could provide another way of managing the relationship between people and the baboon troops.
The organisation is now asking the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, SANParks and the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team to consider the proposal as discussions around the future of the Waterfall and Seaforth troops continue.
The debate places the question of wildlife management and coexistence at the centre of the discussion, with WAPFSA advocating for an approach that it says could avoid permanent captivity.
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**Picture: **Charmain Jansen van Rensburg / Pexels
The post Animal groups propose alternative to Kogelfontein baboon centre appeared first on Cape Town ETC.
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About this article
- Length
- 446 words · 2 min read
- Published
- September 20, 2026
- Byline
- Hope Makhoba
- Source
- Cape Town ETC