Living in harmony with Baboons: A Practical Guide for Farmers and Communities

Baboons are part of Namibia’s natural environment. While they can be Living with Baboons: A Practical Guide for Farmers and Communities

Baboons are part of Namibia’s natural environment. While they can be challenging at times, they are not pests by nature. Instead of trying to fight or kill them, it is more effective and sustainable to understand their behaviour and learn to live alongside them peacefully.

Why Baboons Come Close to Humans

Baboons are intelligent and opportunistic. They are drawn to human settlements and farms mainly because they find easy access to food:

Unprotected crops
Rubbish bins and waste food
Unsecured water tanks
Livestock feed and leftovers

When baboons lose their natural fear of people, they become bolder. This happens especially when humans chase or throw things at them without causing real harm. They learn quickly and return in greater numbers.

The Problem with Chasing Baboons

Chasing baboons often makes the situation worse. They learn to dodge humans, come back when it’s safe, and bring more baboons next time. It’s also dangerous, especially for children and the elderly.

Better Ways to Live with Baboons

Here are proven methods to prevent baboon problems without violence:

1. Make Food Unavailable

Harvest on time and don’t leave ripe crops exposed.
Fence gardens or use netting where possible.
Lock rubbish bins and compost heaps.
Store livestock feed and grain in secure containers or buildings.

2. Use Smart Design

Place chicken coops, kraals, and vegetable gardens close to your home, within a secure area.
Use thorny bushes like wild pomegranate (Dovyalis) as natural fencing.
Put up shade netting over gardens.

3. Scare Tactics

Dogs can be effective, but only if properly trained and not left alone with baboons.
Radios or motion-triggered noise devices can help deter baboons.
Hanging CDs, mirrors, or reflective tape can disturb them visually.
Some farmers use scarecrows that move in the wind or make noise.

4. Teach Respect Without Harm

Baboons are clever. If they experience real consequences once or twice, they usually remember. For example:

Slingshots (ketties) with pebbles (not to injure, but to make them uncomfortable)
Controlled use of water sprays
Group shouting or banging pots when they approach

5. Community Collaboration

Work together with neighbours to manage baboon habits across the area.
Avoid giving food to baboons under any circumstance — it encourages them to return.
Report aggressive behaviour to local wildlife authorities if it becomes a threat.

6. Regenerative Landscape Design

Create buffer zones using thorny plants, trees that baboons dislike, or crops they do not eat.
Design multi-layered food forests where the top canopy hides the fruit from plain sight.
Grow baboon-resistant crops along borders, such as lemongrass, lavender, or garlic.

7. Build a Bush Kraal or Perimeter Fence

One effective method to keep these wild primates away from your homestead is to build a bush kraal or living fence around your property, especially in areas where baboons usually travel.

Use thick, thorny branches from acacia, buffalo thorn, or wild pomegranate trees to create a dense fence.
Stack branches in a criss-cross manner to make it harder for baboons to climb through or jump over.
Reinforce with wire or netting where needed, especially near entry points or food storage areas.
Plant a living hedge of thorny or smelly plants like prickly pear, lemongrass, lantana, or wild rosemary that baboons avoid.
Monitor regularly and repair weak spots. Baboons quickly notice broken sections.
Consider marking baboon paths and building small diversions or barriers along those routes to guide them away from homes and crops.

This natural fencing approach not only helps keep baboons out, but it also protects from other wildlife, reduces wind, and can support biodiversity around your home.

8. Create a Natural Balance

Encourage natural predators and a healthy ecosystem so baboons remain part of the wild instead of entering human zones. This includes:

Protecting leopards and other natural predators
Reducing human waste in nature

Final Thoughts

Baboons are not the enemy. They are part of the ecological system and can be managed respectfully. Killing them is not a solution — it usually creates more problems. The key is prevention, smart planning, and cooperation between people.

With good design, simple protection methods, and community awareness, it is possible to live in harmony with these wild primates — respecting nature while protecting our food and homes.

Reference: Baboon Matters. (n.d.). Living with Baboons. Retrieved from https://baboonmatters.org.za/baboons/living-with-baboons/.

On a lighter note:

Sure! Here’s a light-hearted, fun story that highlights the dynamics of human–wildlife interaction through the cheeky antics of a clever baboon — with a subtle message woven in about coexistence:

The Great Baboon Bread Heist

Once upon a time in a small Namibian village nestled between dusty hills and mopane trees, there lived a particularly bold baboon named Kapu. Kapu wasn’t just any baboon — he was the unofficial mayor of the local baboon troop and believed himself to be a “professional forager of fine food”.

One bright morning, Kapu perched on a rock overlooking the village and sniffed the air dramatically. “Mmm… freshly baked bread!” he declared, smacking his lips. “Today… I dine like a king.”

Down in the village, old Oma Sara had just finished baking her famous soft bread loaves, placing them to cool on the open windowsill — a decision she would soon regret.

Kapu waited patiently. He had learned from experience that timing was everything. He tiptoed (or at least tried to) across the fence, past the chickens, and darted under a hanging bedsheet. With the agility of a ninja and the arrogance of a spoiled prince, Kapu leapt up… Swoosh! One bread in paw — success!

But what Kapu hadn’t planned on was Oma Sara’s secret weapon: Jasper the goat. Jasper, tied nearby, had seen this nonsense before. With a loud “Baaaaaah!”, he lunged, causing a cacophony of goat bells, barking dogs, and shouting neighbours.

Startled, Kapu dropped the bread. But not without a fight! He scooped it up again, ran across the roof, tripped on a clothesline, and landed in a tomato bed with a loud splat! Bread in mouth, covered in tomatoes and dignity lost, he sprinted back to the hills.

Later that day, the village children giggled as they told the story to each other.

“Did you see his face when he hit the bucket?”

“He looked like a tomato pie with teeth!”

Oma Sara, while a bit grumpy, eventually laughed too. “Well, I guess Kapu has good taste,” she sighed. “But from now on, I’m putting up some netting.”

That evening, Kapu sat atop his rock, nibbling slightly squashed bread, tomato juice still dripping from his fur. He looked over the village and muttered, “Next time, I’ll bring a napkin… and maybe a parachute.”

Moral of the Story:

Living with wildlife can be messy, amusing, and occasionally frustrating — but it’s part of life in harmony with nature. With a little creativity (and maybe a goat named Jasper), people and baboons can learn to respect each other’s space — preferably without stealing anyone’s lunch.