Sebastian, a dispersing male from Tokai, who had joined the Da Gama fission troop was found dead on 23 November 2010.
Some residents had seen him staggering around not long before he died, wondering if he had been poisoned.
The alpha male of the troop, Peter, also became very ill shortly after Sebastian's death.
While no cause was given for Peter's illness, it was stated Sebastian had pneumonia, although the actual cause of his death remains unverified.
It is often extremely difficult for residents to obtain information regarding the baboons.
Since Sebastian's death the number of baboons killed in terms of controversial culling protocols of 2009 and 2010 has risen dramatically with around 40 killed since 2009 but with around 30 of these between 2012 and 2013.
Additionally baboons have continued to be killed in the urban areas by dogs and people.
Aggressive tools like paintballs to avoid them being in the urban areas and getting hurt was given as a justification for their introduction.
However, paintballing as a 'pain aversion tool' can and does hurt, with eyes being particularly vulnerable. When baboons are deemed resistant to these aggressive tools, they are also simply killed.
L.Thomas
No portion may be reproduced without permission of site author.
