Baboon Woman

First Air Date:

Overview - Baboon Woman is a wildlife documentary starring Karin Saks. In South Africa, baboons have historically been treated as pests and are persecuted. As human development continues to encroach on natural habitats, the war between humans and non-human primates in South Africa, is increasing. Non-lethal methods to manage perceived "problem" non-human primates are encouraged by a number of baboon experts in South Africa. The documentary - Baboon Woman - highlights the struggle between humans and wildlife living in close proximity; illustrating the responses of gun toting farmers, baboon experts, and residents who are frustrated at having their property raided by baboons. A farmer interviewed admits to shooting about five baboons a week in spite of the fact that this method does not deter baboons from raiding his crops. Residents who live in areas where baboon/human conflict is unusually magnified because human development has cut the baboons off from other more natural areas, are divided in their opinions which range from deterring baboons from human properties using acceptable non-lethal methods and enjoying having the baboons visit human homes. One of Saks' main goals is to break down the misconceptions about non-human primates, this being one of the greatest threats.