Throng

In South Africa baboons are the primates people love to hate. Ransacking houses and cars in search of food, these mischievous creatures are often shot on sight. But for Karin Sachs baboons are far more than just pests. She has devoted ten years of her life to living and working with baboon troops, and has even learned how to talk to them. When a sick baby baboon is left in her care, can she reintroduce him to the wild?

On the southern coastline of South Africa a war is being waged between humans and baboons. As they become increasingly socialised, the baboons are deserting the mountains and encroaching on the low-lying land in search of food. Infuriated by their destructive behaviour, farmers shoot or maim as many wild baboons as they can. “Even animal conservationists hate baboons,” admits Justin O’Riain, Director of Baboon Research at Cape Town University. However, one woman has devoted ten years to the plight of the baboons. Karin Sachs lives and works with wild baboon troops, and has even learned to speak to them.

Karin has been obsessed with primates since they appeared in her childhood dreams. She now lives on a farm with her boyfriend John and 13 vervet monkeys. She has befriended the local Gaia baboon troop and spends much of her time with them. Over a period of years Karin has learned to speak to the baboons, building up a terminology including the ‘comfort grunt’, the ‘lip smack’ and the ‘where-are-you bark’. Baboons are genetically similar to humans and share 91 per cent of their DNA. Karin feels she has found her inner primate with the troop. “I would say that I’m more likely to trust baboons than humans,” she says.

During the baboon birthing season, Karin receives up to a call a week asking her to look after an abandoned primate. The latest arrival is two-year- old Kajika, a desperately ill baby baboon. A vet confirms he could have tuberculosis, but just a week later Kajika is faring well. Karin has tested forms of rehabilitation, but some experts disagree with her methods. “I don’t agree with humans and baboons touching,” states Justin O’Riain. Although Karin’s approach is questioned, it seems to be working – Kajika is soon healthy and being groomed by the vervet monkeys. But Karin is concerned for Kajika’s long-term welfare. “Although the monkeys are a comfort they are no substitute for a baboon troop,” she sighs.

Karin has good reason for her hesitation in releasing Kajika. She previously adopted a baby baboon called Karma. Leaving the farm one day to get some groceries, she left a friend in charge. A wild male baboon then arrived on the farm and killed baby Karma. Karin explains that sometimes male baboons commit infanticide, attacking baboons who are not related to them in order to protect their own bloodline. She is still distressed by the incident, which brought home to her how dangerous life can be for the young baboons she integrates into the troops. “The more I see, the harder it gets,” she says.

Karin initially attempts to introduce Kajika into the Gaia troop by sitting in a cage with him near the troop’s domain. All does not go according to plan, however. Although the alpha male of the troop seems to accept Kajika, one baboon shrieks out a warning. Within minutes the animals are swarming all over the cage. Panicked, Karin removes Kajika. It seems the Gaia baboons are unwilling to accept Kajika as one of their own.

Six months later, Karin is beginning to struggle with the antics of the now adolescent baboon. She admits her concern for Kajika is beginning to overshadow her plans to find a baboon troop for him. “I couldn’t cope with another loss,” she admits. But events take an unexpected turn when another troop appears on the outskirts of the farm, showing an interest in Kajika. As the baboon gradually builds up a relationship with the new troop, it seems Kajika could still have the chance to live with his own kind in the wild. But will Karin be able to let him go?