Baboon capture and factors influencing capture success in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

The efficiency of cage traps and factors influencing the capture results of chacma baboons Papio ursinus were investigated in the Western Cape Province. During a four-year study at eight different sites, baboons were captured using cage traps. This study suggested that cage traps were effective in capturing baboons. Cage traps covered with a wire mesh (size = 25 mm) and equipped with trap door locking mechanisms, were more effective than traps not complying with these requirements. Furthermore, the success of cage traps in capturing baboons was influenced positively by conditioning troop members to feed at trap sites during the baiting phase, by using firm bait during trapping, and by trapping under fine weather conditions. Die effektiwiteit van vanghokke en faktore wat die vangresultate van bobbejane Papio ursinus beinvloed, is ondersoek in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie. Gedurende 'n vierjaarstudie op agt verskillende lokaliteite, is bobbejane met vanghokke gevang. Hierdie studie het aangedui dat vanghokke effektiewe bobbejaanvangapparate is. Vanghokke met 'n maasdraadbedekking (grootte = 25 mm) en toegerus met valdeursluitmeganismes, was meer effektief as hokke wat nie aan hierdie vereistes voldoen het nie. Verder, word die sukses van bobbejaanvanghokke positief beinvloed deur troplede gedurende die aanlokfase te kondisioneer om by vangplekke te vreet, deur ferm lokaas gedurende die vangfase te gebruik, en deur in mooiweerstoestande te vang.