Baboon Damage in Plantation Forestry in South Africa

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Abstract
Baboons damage all commercially important pine species by stripping bark, which results in deformation or death of trees and reduction in wood quality. Cones are also removed. Scale of damage appears to have increased recently in several plantation areas in both summer and winter rainfall regions and losses are estimated to total several million rand. Trees are generally susceptible between about age four to twenty years but exceptions occur at both ends of the scale. Selection for vigour and by position near compartment edges occurs. Stripping in plantations is an extension of normal baboon feeding behaviour, possibly enhanced by the superabundance of trees, but appears to be nutritionally unimportant. Geographically discontinuous incidence of damage is at least partly related to development of local stripping traditions. Baboon population densities are relatively high in two State forests suffering damage, possibly as a result of loss of habitat in adjacent agriculturally developed areas. Population control by poisoning is feasible but ecologically undesirable and trapping is usually employed. Research on factors affecting palatability of pines and on more effective baboon control methods is indicated.

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