BATTLE WITH BABOON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

BATTLE WITH BABOON.

SAVAGE BEAST IN TRAP. } t>3 "' - v '- •"'HV!'#. * '." v* • •;.*'*'x'. Pf- m ♦* A ' •'//. * *'' v - ,v \'i ONLY SHAMS TO BE DEAD. FARMER'S NARROW ESCAPEA farmer's fight for life with a huge baboon, followed by a' rescue attempt of another animal, has just come to light in South - A>.ica. , '• ■' • In the Graaf Reinet district of Cape Colony, Mr. W. Calverley found monkeys were working destruction on < his farm, and lie set a "Bowker trap —a large wire cage into which the monkeys ire cajoled to their doom.. On visiting it ,he found a great baboon trapped, and in the usual way through the netting he struck it hard on the back of the neck with a heavy club. The beast dropped, and the farmer, believing it to be dead, entered the cage. The animal had been shamming, for it leapt up and attacked Mr. Calverly. The farmer, a heavily-built man, fought hard to prevent the baboon from fastening its fangs in him, and at last secured a good grip of its throat. The monkey also fought furiously and gripped the farmer with its powerful fore limbs. Steadily, the beast gained the mastery, and Mr. Calverley was forced to the ground backwards with the monkey on top.

Almost overpowered, he released his hold, and, to his surprise, the baboon dashed through the open door and escaped. Leaping on * his horse, Mr. Calverley chased it across the veld, and killed" it with a big stone. . ' - A day or two later the farmer found' in, the trap a female baboon with a yoiw* one. He killed the mother, ' and left the cub as a decoy to other baboons. Then a huge male .baboon came to the trap, but was too cautious to enter. He prowled around for some time,-; and then, putting his 1 powerful jaws 'through the wire, seized the : cub, and endeavoured to pull it through the wire. / > r - ; . He succeeded in doing ■; so at the < price of the young one's life, and made off with the body in his mouth. ' : r