BABOON SPOTTED AT NGWANE PARK

MANZINI - A baboon is on the loose and has been spotted moving around properties at Ngwane Park.

Ngwane Park is a busy township with newly-constructed shopping malls and entertainment places sandwiched between the city and Sidvokodvo.
It has been gathered that the creature was first spotted in properties situated near Ludwala and yesterday it was reported by several surprised residents who seemingly had no idea what to do about the situation.

A concerned resident, Takitsi Mamba, who stays below Ludwala Complex, said at around 2am, they were woken up by something which sounded like someone was dragging a heavy item on the ground and they also heard dogs barking.

Barking

She said when she peeped through the window, she saw the dogs barking near a tree, situated near the houses.
“It was clear that the dogs had seen something and from where I was, I assumed it was a thug or a person who wanted to attack or commit a housebreaking offence. As the dogs continued barking, we became more scared, however, when I looked closer, I saw something which looked like a snake dangling from the tree,” Mamba said.

She stated that they later discovered that it was a chain which had been tied to something which looked like a weird animal, a baboon, to be precise.
Mamba said that was when they decided to contact other neighbours and alert them about the strange animal.

“We all woke up and watched as the dogs barked, we then used cellphones to communicate.  When one of the tenants decided to open the burglar door and go out, the dogs lost concentration and went for him, giving the baboon a chance to escape,” Mamba said.
Another resident, Musa Lukhele, who is a government employee, said he had spotted the same creature while driving to his house, during the early hours of the morning.

He added that he always returned home late due to his social life and ever since he spotted the baboon, he allegedly stopped this habit.
 “The police have to intervene and a contingency plan found about this weird animal. By having the chain around its neck, it is clear that it belongs to someone and has escaped wherever it had been kept. Otherwise the Animal Welfare Department or Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary has to intervene and return it to its natural habitat,” Lukhele said.

He also said as residents of the area, they were worried that people were exposed to danger, as they would want to make means to catch and kill it.

Dangerous

The Swaziland Animal Welfare Society (SAWS), advised members of the public who come across the animal not to come near it as it is dangerous, feisty and also jumpy.

“Unfortunately, we cannot try and capture it as we do not deal with wild animals, the wildlife people at Mlilwane have to intervene in this incident,” SAWS’s Thulani Nhlabatsi said yesterday.
Baboons are associated with witchcraft throughout Africa, alongside bats, hyenas, and owls.

Historically and currently, baboons are understood to serve as witches’ familiars or mounts, or even to be witches themselves.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that the matter was reported to the Manzini police.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: