South African baboons, long since denoted as �problem
animals� because of
damage they do to farmers� crops, are to be slaughtered for food and sex
stimulants. The building of a multimillion rand baboon abattoir [was]
scheduled
to begin on Monday, May 24, outside Warmbaths, in the Northern Province,
and is expected to be complete within five months.
News of the proposed abattoir was broken in the
Afrikaans language newspaper
Volksblad today (19 May). According to the newspaper, Mr. Ollie
Wehmeyer,
chairman of the Warmbaths Development Initiative and spokesperson for
the
businessmen behind the scheme, said the abattoir would relieve the
pressure
on endangered Central African gorilla and chimpanzee populations which
are
being butchered for bush meat and sex potions. It is proposed, he said,
that
tinned baboon meat would be exported to Central Africa and Eastern
Europe
while the teeth, nails and hands would go to Asia where they can be used
as
sex stimulants.
He said it was envisaged that 10 � 15 baboons at a time
would be caught in
large traps. They would then be taken alive to the abattoir where they
will be
shocked to death before having their throats slit. Although the news has
been
met with disbelief by many, Mr. Thembi Makuveli, spokesperson for the
Department of Agriculture and Nature Conservation in Northern Province,
confirmed yesterday that he was aware of the project.
There is no census as to how many baboons are left in
South Africa. Still
classified as �vermin� or �problem animals� they are shot with impunity
by
farmers. Many believe that South African baboons are endangered.
Although
there is no official count, there is no doubt that hundreds are being
used in
medical research laboratories throughout South Africa. Some have been
incarcerated in tiny cages for more than six years. They are also
exported
to foreign research laboratories.
Louise van der Merwe, Editor
Compassion Incorporating Animal Voice
Official Mouthpiece of Beauty Without Cruelty in South Africa
Tel. & Fax +27 21 852 4402
e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.animals.co.za/orgs/bwc/compassion/
Go on to First Aid Kit
Return to 2 June 1999 Issue
Return to Newsletters
** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material, use of which has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this
not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the
copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your
own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.