HAND TO HAND BABOON FIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17410, 12 December 1924, Page 6

HAND TO HAND BABOON FIGHT.

“ FAMILY ” AFFAIRS. < APE TOWN". November 2. Mr Jankeld F. Seheepers. a visitor to the Water berg, from the « ape, who entertains unfriendly feelings generally* towards baboons, had an amazing adventure with a pair in a local gorge last | \\ ednesday. He was startled by the sudden appearance of a female, carrying a “babv ' on its back. The creature showed its teeth, and. with a frightened intake of breath, retreated some yards. ! Seheepers. who had a heavy stick, carried the battle to the enemy, and struck it so that it fell. The baby, uttering pathetic cries, • hopped away and sat looking at its ! fallen “ mother.” Seheepers just had time to see the j animal assume a slow, semi-erect position, when he was attacked suddenly and fiercely by a ma c baboon, which, gripping h.m round the leg with its powerful, claw- ike “ hands ” attempted to bite. He struck at it repeatedly, and managed to prevent its getting its powerful teeth into his calf. He flung it oft several times, but. with amazing tenacity. it returned to the charge with frenzied sounds. Seheepers noticed that the female, i with its baby once more upon its back, was now apparently hesitating whether to join in: and, finding that he was hard pressed, he skipped behind a tree. The baboon presently received a blow’ on the head which staggered it, and another which fel'ed it; whereupon Seheepers beat a retreat, feeling apprehensive lest the cries of the animals should attract other baboons to the spot. As he left, he saw the female rush to the fallen male, which she tried to pull erect. “ I hate baboons,” said Seheepers, describing the incident yesterday. “They have done great damage in past years to my mealies; but I felt quit happy to see the o d male revive, and his consort’s signs of joy.” ( ” I shot a baby baboon years ago. he concluded. “ and I daresay I could have shot the lot this time, for I had mv revolver handy. But when a baboon is wounded, :t makes terrible, human lamentations. And 1 personally preter to stun them .rather than hear their cries.'