By Flata Kavinga
The Municipality of Redcliff, working with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has killed nine baboons in an ongoing operation to control the growing menace posed by the primates in the town.
Addressing journalists soon after a full council meeting, the municipality’s Environmental Health Technician Ngoni Penzura confirmed the development, saying the culling exercise followed community consultations aimed at finding ways to deal with the problem.
“Currently we have already done the community engagement, so our community now knows that we are killing the baboons. So far we have managed to kill about nine as of last week,” Penzura said.
He added that further operations are scheduled for next week, with ZimParks teams set to return on Wednesday and Thursday to continue the exercise.
Residents have been urged to cooperate with the authorities by reporting sightings of baboon groups to ensure the animals are swiftly contained.
“The numbers are very high as of now, but we will try by all means to reduce them. We are encouraging our community to have patience with us in terms of the baboons. Please, when the parks come, inform us where the baboons are so that we can control them,” Penzura said.
Baboons have in recent months become a source of concern in Redcliff, with residents complaining of raids on food supplies, destruction of property, and occasional confrontations that threaten public safety.
The collaboration between the municipality and ZimParks is expected to continue until the baboon population is brought under control.
