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Baboon raider put to death in South Africa
He was known to his countrymen simply as Fred. The famous baboon's hobbies included car burglary, stealing fruits, harassing humans, and sunning on a gorgeous stretch of a South African road around Millers Point.
This week, South African authorities decided Fred's behavior was excessively aggressive, and put him down. While numerous activist groups such as Baboon Matters and the Nature Conservation Corporation pleaded for his life, their requests to spare the primate were rebuked. The locals too fought to save Fred. One Cape Point man tailed the vehicle containing a caged Fred for miles on his death row journey, his mind perhaps filled with action packed scenes of liberating the rebel baboon from his captors. But to no avail, Fred was euthanized.
Fred was an expert thief, and had a keen eye for snacks. He would scout for cars with food inside and break in to feed. In 2010, Fred the baboon injured three people with two requiring hospitalization. Some speculate that this aggressive behavior is the result of being fed by humans around Millers point.
As the alpha male of the Millers Point baboon gang, Fred was an infamous character and cultivated a rather large following. The South African authorities cited his reckless behavior and escalating aggressiveness as the primary reasons for euthanizing him. While the cars around Millers Point may now be a little safer, many will miss the baboon burglar known simply as Fred.
flickr image via vgh.media
As the alpha male of the Millers Point baboon gang, Fred was an infamous character and cultivated a rather large following. The South African authorities cited his reckless behavior and escalating aggressiveness as the primary reasons for euthanizing him. While the cars around Millers Point may now be a little safer, many will miss the baboon burglar known simply as Fred.
flickr image via vgh.media
Filed under: Africa, South Africa, Ecotourism, News, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Sue Mar 28th 2011 7:35AM
How sad. I'll say a prayer for him: Oh dear Lord, please take our departed Fred into your loving embrace. Provide him with a heavenly environment where he can roam freely stealing things and abusing humans. Perhaps provide a victim whose face he can rip off. These things I pray. Amen
warren Mar 28th 2011 7:49AM
Idiot
Tony Mar 28th 2011 8:52AM
Idot is right. One sick fool !
Dad Mar 28th 2011 8:58AM
Now that's funny
JoGo Mar 28th 2011 9:36AM
How stupid is this comment...these are animals...doing what animals do and it is we, the humans that are invading their lands and then, because they seek food or whatever, they are euthanized...If the locals wanted this animal to stick around, why was he killed...How sad...and to respond to the "ripping off of a face" comment...that was the fault of a human again...not the animal...although it was so horrible, I don't believe some animals should be kept in captivity...
Bob Mar 28th 2011 9:25AM
... and please Lord, save a spot in that heavenly place for all these people who loved, supported, and fought to keep Fred alive. Please Lord, allow them the blessings of having their things stolen, their heavenly bodies abused, and perhaps even their face torn off for eternity. Amen
John Mar 28th 2011 11:06AM
Sue said:
"How sad. I'll say a prayer for him: Oh dear Lord, please take our departed Fred into your loving embrace. Provide him with a heavenly environment where he can roam freely stealing things and abusing humans. Perhaps provide a victim whose face he can rip off. These things I pray. Amen"
I agree, but baboons aren't sentient and have no souls for the Lord to watch over, although they are smarter than most of the animal loving, abuse button pushing, weinies on this blog. We should pray for them...
Randall Mar 28th 2011 11:42AM
Lord please don't send Fred to the "other place"... And Lord we know there are different levels in heaven so please send Fred to the lowest level where the vegan PETA people all are... That way they can have fun tossing feces at each other and fighting with Fred over the veggies.... And please don't let Fred rip off their silly little faces, when just a few bites about the ankles would satisfy Freds alpha male ego...
Tex Mar 28th 2011 1:05PM
Those of you taking the Lord's name in vain need not worry that you will be the victims of Fred, in his "heavenly environment," because you'll be going to hell.
WE ALLMON Mar 28th 2011 8:08AM
TOO BAD WE DONT KILL A FEW HUMANS AS EASILY INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM IN LUXERY CELLS FOR LIFE
Barb Mar 28th 2011 8:43AM
So true. If you ever watch "Lock Up", you wonder why some of those animals aren't euthanized. The world would be a better place.
Nikki Mar 28th 2011 8:15AM
Its pretty sad an animal, in his own enviroment has to be put down, because humans wanna INVADE their privacy.
Scarlett Mar 28th 2011 11:48AM
Nikki-
I agree with you 100%. We intrude into animals natural territory -- giving them nowhere to go--and then scratch our heads saying, "Duh, why is this animal foraging for food in MY area."
I abhor cruelty to animals, and most unfortunately those responsible for Fred's death will never see our comments. What an unfortunate outcome to a solution that humans caused and could have dealt with in a humane way. Shame on us.........I believe in Karma. RIP, dearest, silly, clever, Fred!
Just Sayin Mar 28th 2011 11:42AM
doesnt matter if we INVADE their privacy or not....once they start getting vicious and hurting people. Might be OUR FAULT to begin with but that gets trumped when he starts to harm humans.
and i dont care what the bible says about animals not having souls...i think they do and some animal souls are worth alot more than some low-life humans ive seen.
Billy Mar 28th 2011 12:52PM
Do you let rats run freely through your home, eating food from your cabinets and leaving feeces in your childrens bed?
thinkingperson Mar 28th 2011 2:58PM
I believe that any animal capable of giving and receiving love has a soul. I can't imagine a loving God who would create a loving animal and then abandon them to nothingness.
amused Mar 28th 2011 8:22AM
Dear God welcome Fred into your graces, but after you embrace him check your pockets.
james Mar 28th 2011 8:30AM
you bunch of animal loving pig fks. ask all of the monkey loving people with deformaties and dead relatives killed by primates if they feel bad for these nasty,stinky destructive fks. they act like most people in prison. you want them safe ? how about we bring these wild destructive, killer fkers to your house and you take care of them. you bunch of idiots.
King Kong Mar 28th 2011 8:51AM
You should been put to sleep with the Baboon, Fckr.
Greg Mar 28th 2011 8:52AM
James,
The only idiot around here is you.