The first 2,200 of 6,000 lockable baboon-proof bins are due to reach priority areas of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula from mid-September 2026, while a northern fence project awaits final environmental and administrative approvals.
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), made up of SANParks, CapeNature and the City of Cape Town, said the rollout will initially focus on areas where baboon activity and conflict with residents have been reported most frequently.
The first areas to receive the new bins are Plateau Road, Castle Rock, Heron Park, Murdoch Valley South, De Oude Weg, Da Gama, Capri, Welcome Glen, Scarborough, Tokai East and Fir Grove. Simon’s Town is not included in the initial rollout because the Seaforth and Waterfall troops are earmarked for relocation to the planned Urban Wildlife Centre. Preparations are also under way for a northern boundary fence running from Zwaanswyk south to Constantia Nek.
According to the CPBMJTT, the process is expected to begin later in September once environmental checklists and administrative approvals have been completed. The task team said the fence is intended to prevent baboons from entering urban areas and farmland in the northern part of the peninsula, while securing habitat for an estimated 250 baboons.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between seven wine-farm landowners bordering Table Mountain National Park in the Constantia Valley, the Cape Baboon Partnership and the City. The agreement sets out shared responsibilities for construction, maintenance and the long-term operation of the fence. The landowners and Cape Baboon Partnership will share the construction and upgrade costs, while the City has committed a once-off R10 million contribution.
The CPBMJTT said construction is expected to take about six months if all goes according to plan. Once the fence is in place, rangers will encourage the CT1 and CT2 troops towards the mountainside and will continue monitoring the troops and patrolling the fence.
The fence forms part of the approved Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan and is intended to create a clearer boundary between Table Mountain National Park and neighbouring agricultural and residential properties.
The Cape Baboon Partnership has appointed an experienced sanctuary manager, while stakeholders, environmental groups, community representatives and residents have visited the site over the past two months.
A Swansea University research project involving the Da Gama troop ended on August 21. The study tested non-invasive approaches using olfactory, auditory and visual cues to examine how baboons respond to simulated risks. The collars used during the research were designed to self-release and have now been collected. Data analysis is underway, with the findings expected to be made public once the study has been completed.