Fred (baboon)
Encyclopedia
Fred was a baboon
from Cape Town
, South Africa
. He came to international attention as the leader of a baboon gang which developed a reputation for raiding cars, assaulting and interfering with tourists, and stealing food. This led to Fred being labelled as "aggressive" by authorities. He was captured in 2011, imprisoned, sentenced to death, and executed by lethal injection soon afterwards.
Fred was pursued by photographers and police for at least three years. During one attack in 2010, the baboon was reported to have caused injuries to three people while searching for food in Cape Town. Two of the wounded received medical attention after the attack. When monitors were mobilised to disrupt Fred's activities the baboon initiated a violent campaign against these too. Human negligence and "misguided efforts" were found to have led to Fred's "demise" – "Because people want to love, laugh at and be entertained by baboons, they start a cycle of events that can lead to tragedy, as in the case of this baboon", the city said, adding "He targets cars with bags and visible food, but it is his ability to open closed car doors that surprised everyone".
However, not all local residents agreed with the death sentence. Documentary filmmaker Joss Lean filmed Fred's capture before following the vehicle in which the baboon was imprisoned amid efforts to have him released. The Baboon Matters organisation also attempted unsuccessfully to intervene on Fred's behalf.
Fred features in the British television programme Baboons with Bill Bailey.
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He came to international attention as the leader of a baboon gang which developed a reputation for raiding cars, assaulting and interfering with tourists, and stealing food. This led to Fred being labelled as "aggressive" by authorities. He was captured in 2011, imprisoned, sentenced to death, and executed by lethal injection soon afterwards.
Fred was pursued by photographers and police for at least three years. During one attack in 2010, the baboon was reported to have caused injuries to three people while searching for food in Cape Town. Two of the wounded received medical attention after the attack. When monitors were mobilised to disrupt Fred's activities the baboon initiated a violent campaign against these too. Human negligence and "misguided efforts" were found to have led to Fred's "demise" – "Because people want to love, laugh at and be entertained by baboons, they start a cycle of events that can lead to tragedy, as in the case of this baboon", the city said, adding "He targets cars with bags and visible food, but it is his ability to open closed car doors that surprised everyone".
The decision to have him euthanised was not taken lightly and not without extensive discussions between all role-players involved. This baboon's aggression levels had recently escalated to the point where the safety of tourists, motorists and other travellers along the road past Smitswinkel Bay was being threatened. – statement released by Cape Town's Baboon Operational Group.
However, not all local residents agreed with the death sentence. Documentary filmmaker Joss Lean filmed Fred's capture before following the vehicle in which the baboon was imprisoned amid efforts to have him released. The Baboon Matters organisation also attempted unsuccessfully to intervene on Fred's behalf.
Fred features in the British television programme Baboons with Bill Bailey.