Bizarre

Bizarre Incident: Baboon snatches baby in Zimbabwe

A WOMAN from West Nicholson in Gwanda district rescued her 18-month-old son from the grip of a baboon that was mauling him while dragging him away into a bush.

 

Although baboons rarely attack human beings, with large teeth, sharp claws and amazing agility, they can be a terrifying prospect when they confront people.

 

Tales, however, abound of how baboons may be disrespectful towards women and children, and sometimes go as far as assaulting them in human-wildlife conflicts as the animals seek food in fields.

 

Ms Petronella Moyo (22) threw caution to the wind and went after a full-grown male baboon that had snatched her baby.

 

The animal sank its teeth into the baby twice and left him badly bruised after dragging him on the ground for about 50 metres.

 

The boy was admitted to Gwanda Provincial Hospital, where he received treatment and was vaccinated against rabies.

 

Recounting her ordeal, Ms Moyo said her child’s ear-splitting scream, as the animal attacked him, made her blood run cold.

 

She said maternal instinct kicked in and propelled her to chase after the animal that was dragging the baby on the ground, scrapping his skin off.

 

“Some baboons came to our area in the morning and neighbours made some efforts to chase them away. I was in my bedroom and my son was in the sitting room. I heard my son crying and when I checked on him, I saw a baboon holding him by the leg and fleeing.

 

“Without thinking, I pursued the baboon and, at the same time, I was screaming to scare it. It was dragging my son on the ground along the way and he was crying and screaming in pain. As I closed in on it, after a distance of about 50 metres, the baboon dropped my son on the ground and it fled.

 

“My son was seriously injured as the baboon bit him twice. He also sustained bruises from being dragged on the ground,” she said.

 

Ms Moyo said she was terrified on witnessing the baboon brutalising her son.

 

“The animal was very violent. I feared it would tear my child into pieces. However, I was determined to save him at all costs,” she said.

 

Ms Moyo recounted the despair she felt as her son was admitted to hospital and doctors appeared to think his injuries were extreme.

 

“He got stitches to bring together the open wounds. Nurses clean the wounds and dress them every day. His condition has greatly improved and he is no longer in great pain,” she said.

 

Baboons, Ms Moyo said, are a menace in the area and they usually cause havoc and damage property.

 

A resident of Gwanda town, Mrs Angela Dube, said a baboon once snatched her baby while she was playing and threw her down shortly afterwards. She said it is no longer safe to leave her children unattended while playing.

 

While interacting with Ms Moyo during her visit to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital, Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said the problem of baboons requires immediate attention as it is life-threatening.

 

As part of measures to contain the baboon menace, officers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority have resorted to capturing the animals using cages but that solution has not been effective. — Chronicle

 

 

 

 

 

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