The Zoologist/4th series, vol 1 (1897)/Issue 670/Notes on the Chacma Baboon, and the Maanhaar Jackal, &c.
NOTES ON THE CHACMA BABOON, AND THE
MAANHAAR JACKAL, &c.
By Dr. S. Schonland.
Director of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Supplementing the editor's article on the Chacma Baboon (ante, p. 29), I may state that this animal has now become a regular scourge in some parts of Cape Colony, for a quite unexpected reason. It is perfectly notorious that it has largely taken to killing lambs, for the purpose chiefly of sucking the milk with which they have filled their stomachs. The reason that it has, if anything, increased in the colony during recent years is twofold. Firstly, the alarming spread of the prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) in some districts has provided it with almost impenetrable shelter and abundant food, as it is very fond of the fruit and also eats the leaves. Secondly, it has become so cunning that only by means of artful manœuvres can one get a shot at it. A friend of mine, whose wife could approach a troop of Baboons without disturbing them, borrowed one day her cloak and hat and then went out. They let him approach to within very close quarters, and two of them were shot before the remainder got into shelter. Sometimes the farmers of a district combine and during the night surround their sleeping-place. As soon as the day breaks and the Baboons try to escape they are shot down in large numbers; but this method of reducing their ranks is not always practicable.
The Baboon is not the only South African animal which has during recent times changed its habits. Thus, the so-called "Wet-gat Spreouw," Spreo bicolor, was formerly never known to touch fruit, its food consisting entirely of insects, but during recent years it has, at all events on some farms with which I am acquainted, become very destructive to fruit. Another case, which possibly comes under the same category, is that of the Maanhaar Jackal, Proteles cristatus. The Cape Government was paying a high reward for the destruction of this animal, because it was supposed to be destructive to small stock. I protested publicly against this, as I had never found anything but insects (especially Termites) in the stomachs of those which I had dissected; and the unanimous testimony of experienced and trustworthy farmers in our district was to the effect that although it does a little damage by breaking Ostrich eggs, it very rarely if ever touches live stock; in fact, only one certain case was cited to me in which the bones of a lamb were found in the hole inhabited by Maanhaar Jackals, who had to provide for a litter of young ones at the time. I need scarcely say that this case does not prove that the Maanhaar Jackal kills lambs, as he is known to devour carrion. To my astonishment I was met by a howl of indignation, proceeding from farmers living in other districts, who were positive that this animal was a dangerous enemy to their flocks; and if they are correct (and I must say that there were intelligent and observant men amongst them) the Maanhaar Jackal must have changed its habits during recent times and in certain districts only, when possibly with the advance of civilization its natural food is failing. However, I cannot admit that the question is definitely settled.
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