00:00In the South African town of Simons Town, baboons are breaking into homes, raiding fridge and leaving a trail of
00:07destruction.
00:08Now a plan to move around 60 animals into fence enclosures has split the community.
00:14Some residents say enough is enough. Others say the baboons should remain free.
00:18Resident Peter Willis said the baboons have broken into his home several times, leaving food scattered, jars smashed and cut
00:26in stone.
00:27It took two days to clean up.
00:29We've had two or three incidents where they've broken into the house.
00:34Once while we weren't here and someone had left a window open, and they made an absolute, absolute mess of
00:42the inside of the house.
00:44Plans are currently underway to have two troops moved to purpose-built enclosures near Scarborough, behind electric fence and under
00:51full-time care.
00:52Officials say the enclosures will cover between two and three and a half hectares each.
00:58Male baboons will be sterilized, allowing the troop to die out naturally over an estimated 20 to 30 years.
01:03...that we should opt for, and that was to create a purpose-built semi-wild enclosures where these two troops
01:10could live out the remainder of their lives under full-time care and with the highest possible welfare that we
01:15could create.
01:16But the plan has prompted protests. Some animal welfare campaigners fear the baboon could injure themselves trying to escape and
01:22object to confining them for life.
01:24Protester Shirley Windle said the animals were there first and argues that better management of household waste could help people
01:31in baboon coexist.
01:32I'm here in support of our Cape Chakma baboons. I'm totally against them being caged, vasectomized, and confined for the
01:45rest of their lives. I believe that they were here first.
01:50The baboons are native to South Africa and live close to homes around Cape Town, including near Tebo Mountain National
01:57Park.
01:59In Simons Town, residents and campaigners remain divided over how to protect both people and wildlife.
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