Cape Town residents have expressed anger over the news that Constantia wine farmers had been issued hunting permits for baboons.

The Constantiaberg Bulletin revealed this week that CapeNature has issued Constantia Valley wine farms with hunting permits to kill up to two baboons a day.

CapeNature is the regulatory authority in the Western Cape for the issuing of permits for hunting.

Karen Watkins, a journalist from the Constantiaberg Bulletin, says the information was brought to their attention by a source who asked not be named.

Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting wine farms apparently confirmed that they had been granted permits to hunt problem-causing animals.

It’s understood that seven baboons have been shot and killed by the two farms so far.

According to Watkins, Klein Constantia has hired a professional hunter.

She says Buitenverwachting have withdrawn the permit in the face of public backlash.

Meanwhile, Cape Town-based baboon conservationist, Jenni Trethowan, says that there has been no transparency from the Baboon Technical Team (BTT).

The BTT comprises of representatives from the City of Cape Town, SANParks Table Mountain National Park, South African Navy and CapeNature.

Trethowan advises that there are several alternatives to hunting the animals.

One of the things I find upsetting is that there was absolutely no transparency. I think it’s because they knew it would be unpopular.

— Jenni Trethowan, founder of Baboon Matters

It was a difficult story to write… They (wine farmers) really have tried everything.

— Karen Watkins, journalist from the Constantiaberg Bulletin

The last resort was to get the hunting permits.

— Karen Watkins, journalist from the Constantiaberg Bulletin

Between Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting, seven baboons [have been shot and killed so far.]

— Karen Watkins, journalist from the Constantiaberg Bulletin

It has caused a lot of aggro.

— Karen Watkins, journalist from the Constantiaberg Bulletin