How do I encourage a baboon to leave?
Firstly, it’s important to be calm and clear-headed about the situation. A baboon who has entered your car or home does not want to get into a fight with you. In fact, he is probably more scared of you than you are of him. But he does want a reward for the risk he has taken. Make peace with the idea that you’ll likely need to sacrifice some food in order to evict a baboon with the minimum of disruption and mess.
Next, make sure there’s a clear and unobstructed way for the baboon to escape.
Gauge the right time to act. Your very presence is likely to send the females and lower ranking baboons into a panicked exit. A more dominant baboon may be more determined to get a reward before he leaves. Wait for him to gather up some food, and then make your move.
Stand tall, put your shoulders back and hold your head high. Then calmly and assertively walk toward the baboon, holding up your arm, a broom or something else to signal that he must leave. Make sure your approach doesn’t force him away from, or block the escape route. Be assertive and sure of your intention.
Use a loud, commanding voice to say “OUT!” or “NO!”, but don’t shout or scream. You could also clap your hands. Continue to move the baboon towards the exit.
If the baboon bares its teeth in a fear grimace, it is scared. Other signs of fear include running with the tail straight up, high pitched screams and frantic movements and defecating or urinating. Do not allow any of this to deter you, and continue to chase it out.
Being very sure of your intention, using calm, strong body language and following through should ensure that the baboon leaves. If the baboon refuses to leave, it may not be convinced by your body language and could take advantage of any hesitation. Often, they will simply watch your attempts to chase them away without reacting. They may even display a fear grimace but remain stubbornly in place.
This is sometimes misinterpreted as ‘aggression,’ but when the situation is examined more closely, it often turns out that the baboon didn’t actually act aggressively—it just didn’t retreat. It’s important to distinguish between genuine aggression and normal baboon behavior. Feeling threatened does not necessarily mean the baboon has behaved aggressively.
If in the end you are unsuccessful or nervous, call someone to assist.
The most important thing is to remain calm. If you become hysterical, angry, or start yelling, you are likely to frighten the baboons. This can cause them to immediately defecate and react fearfully or protectively, especially if their family is nearby. It’s in your best interest to stay composed and avoid provoking them. Reacting poorly can quickly escalate the situation and make it more difficult to manage.