26 June 2009
The wandering ways of Mike, arguably the best-travelled baboon on the peninsula, will have ended on Friday if plans by conservationists succeed.
A dispersing male from Tokai and estimated to be eight years old, Mike has been trying to leave his natal troop since early April, but human development has thwarted his efforts to find another troop to shack up with.
On Friday attempts were to be made to dart him.
If successful, the plan was to physically assist him to at least be introduced to some new female friends, although whether they - and their current male consorts - will welcome the newcomer will remain to be seen.
Mike has gone walkabout by following the natural tendencies of young male baboons who mature sexually but are unable to compete with the alpha male in their home troop.
He has moved to many parts of the Peninsula and has been darted and tested for TB.
Once bitten, twice shy and several attempts to nab him again have failed. He has moved to Wynberg, where he's been hanging out in Wellington Avenue, among other places, and reportedly retiring during the nights to a secluded spot in upmarket Constantia.
On Thursday, CapeNature's wildlife advisory committee decided it was not yet ready to sanction moving baboons off the Peninsula.
Jenni Trethowan of Baboon Matters said a vet with a dart gun would be available on Friday morning, and they were hoping for good weather to complete the relocation operation.
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