The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has urged Windhoek residents to manage their waste responsibly amid an increase in baboon sightings and property damage in residential areas.
This comes after various cases were recently reported in the areas of Goreagab and Kwanangombe in the Windhoek informal settlement. It was reported that the baboons have been entering residential areas, where they are destroying residents’ belongings and stealing food.
Responding to these developments and what the ministry is doing to ensure they are moved away from the people, the ministry’s spokesperson, Vilho Hangula, said the situation is largely being driven by food sources within communities, particularly improperly managed waste, which continues to attract the animals into urban areas.
“We are aware of the situation, and the one thing that we have picked up is that they are being drawn close to people in search of food. At the moment, the government is working on a lasting solution. But I would urge people to manage their waste properly, because that’s the main cause,” he said.
He said residents or the ministry are not permitted to harm or shoot the animals. “Only the City Police, the Namibian Police or the Namibian Defence Force are legally allowed to operate firearms within Windhoek, which makes it difficult for us.”
He urged residents to work together to get a better way to move them away without harming them. “It’s best if resident leaders come together and construct a fence just to get them away.
Or maybe get them away from where people live without harming them. These wild animals are already declared dangerous (problematic), and people should just move them without harming them,” he said.
