REPORTS have been received of a baboon on the loose in the Arboretum area close to the Mzingazi Canal.
Resident Willem van der Merwe spotted the large male baboon on Saturday morning as it ran towards the old crocodile farm opposite the harbour east gate entrance.
It had also been seen by others in the same vicinity.
The last time baboon sightings were reported was in 2011, when a troop of seven was seen near the Bay Hall.
At the time, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officer Roy Jones said there had been three previous sightings on the outskirts of the town, but none within Richards Bay itself.
In 2008 a baboon was killed by people working south of the town near RBCT and in 2010 a troop was observed in the vicinity of the Mhlathuze Water extraction area and were thought to have moved in from the Sokhulu/Nhlabane region.
The public is warned that baboons can become extremely aggressive and people must not feed or approach them.
Given their size, they are not easily intimidated and may attack if provoked.
Any person who sees the baboon is asked to immediately call Ezemvelo officer Frans Mthembu on 082 5592849.
HI
My husband and I were driving back from Durban approaching the traffic light turning left to arboretum when the baboon jogged across the road, not a small baboon, one mother of a baboon, when the baboon ran in front of our car on all fours he was higher than my bonnet.
That was terrifying, and he jogged with attitude, so I don’t think you want to be near this baboon.
he ran into the bushes next to the canal.