Troublesome South African baboon evicted for raiding homes

 Kataza alrey h a lengthy rap sheet with Cape Town authorities, so when he organized a band of ors to raid a series of suburban homes, he was captured. w he sleeps at a local prison, although re is a social media campaign for him to be returned to his old stomping grounds.

Kataza is a baboon, one of a few hundred urban baboons who live around Cape Town and are often a nuisance when y inve properties looking for food. y kck over trash cans, steal fruit and vegetables from gardens, and generally cause trouble.

Kataza's story is latest in Cape Town's ongoing dilemma over how to deal with baboons, who live in craggy mountains that surround city but often jump at chance to roam through residential areas and scavenge for anything edible.

re are around 15 troops in greater Cape Town area and something in region of 500 baboons, according to experts. city even has a Baboon Technical Team. Wildlife rangers chase baboons away from some neighborhoods by shooting paintball guns at m. most persistently troublesome primates are sometimes euthanized.

Kataza operated in seaside vill of Kommetjie, on Cape Town's sourn peninsula. After he was captured, rangers relocated him to nearby area of Tokai, hoping that he would integrate with ar, better-behaved troop and stop his mischief.

Activists, however, want him to be taken home and reunited with his own troop. “#BringBackKataza” res a sign posted by a ro in Kommetjie. re’s a Facebook p calling for his safe return.

Kataza was unfairly singled out, said Jenni Trethowan. She runs Baboon Matters, a conservation organization in Cape Town that seeks ways for humans and baboons to peacefully co-exist. She wants him back in Kommetjie.

“He’s worse than any of or baboons. He’s just an urban baboon,” Trethowan said.

Trethowan has spent many days observing Kataza since he was relocated late last month. He hasn't integrated with Tokai troop, she said, is isolated and appears to be “depressed." He w spends his days wandering through streets of Tokai, and his nights sleeping in yard of a local prison.

“He lowers himself over prison wall, or just ambles through gate,” she said.

Authorities keep what y call “rap sheets” that list a baboon's misdemears and Kataza's was apparently extensive. y h watched him since April, when he raided five occupied houses. final straw came when he led his troop on 15 raids through Kommetjie in July and August, y said.

"He generally solicited or individuals to join him in raiding town,” Kataza's rap sheet says, according to a South African newspaper that viewed document.

Trethowan said city is just blaming baboons for being baboons. Inste, Cape Town should take measures to ease problem. Baboon-proof trash cans would help, she said.

“Baboons are criminalized for things that baboons do rmally,” Trethowan said. “y are just opportunistic forrs.”