Baboons terrorise Mmadinare school

Ivy Matlho | Tuesday January 19, 2016 14:52

 

Mbulawa told Mmegi that baboons residing on a hill behind the school are causing damage at the school garden as well as posing a threat to human lives.

He said the baboons had left students’ garden projects too damaged to be presented for examination marking.

Mbulawa said the baboons not only destroy the crops but also kill the school goats.

“We have a problem of baboons that attack our school, it is painful because these baboons are destroying students’ projects as well as kill our goats,” he said.

 To ensure that the students are not disadvantaged, Mbulawa said the school management had to call the authorities to come and see the projects and the damage for themselves.

Last year, the school was forced to sell the goats to avoid more losses, but kept the offspring. 

“We were hoping for an improvement, which is not the case as baboons continued to kill them, we are now left with nothing,” he said.

The marauding baboons are also proving a threat to people, with at least one of the school employees having been attacked. 

A baboon attacked a woman who works at the school as a gatekeeper, after she tried to scare it out of the garden by throwing stones at it.

“She was admitted at Mmadinare Hospital because of the horrible wound which resulted in her losing a lot of blood but fortunately we rushed her to the hospital well in time,” he said.

The school has since reported the matter to the Department of Wildlife and Tourism but nothing has been done yet.

He said their lives are in danger because the baboons are now roaming around the school and have been spotted at the teachers’ quarters as well.

The victim, Tshegofatso Gaonakala told Mmegi that the attack has affected her as she spent a lot of money going to the hospital for check-ups.

“I have lost blood due to bleeding and now I feel dizzy most of the time and I am also vomiting,” she said.

Mbulawa added that baboons have also become a nuisance to the greater community of Mmadinare, especially for residents staying near Makome hills.

“These baboons are not only attacking us here there are also reports that they are attacking residents who stay next to the school but the Wildlife department has done nothing about the baboons,” he said.

An official at Mmadinare Wildlife department, September Tsheboeng refused to comment on the issue saying he would have to get permission from headquarters.