PEOPLE have been warned over the dangers of rearing baboons at home as they are prone to bite, scratch or claw, as well as endanger lives.
The Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre (BARC) stressed the importance of imposing a ban on the import of all animals alien to the region and its climate followed by strict law enforcement and penalties.
“People fail to acknowledge that certain animals aren’t meant to be domesticated and any attempt to do so creates potentially lethal situations,” said a BARC representative, on condition of anonymity. “These species aren’t native to the kingdom, therefore we lack the expertise to safely control and contain animals that escape their handlers.
“This will not only endanger the animals, but also their owners and the general public.”
The Supreme Council for Environment Biodiversity Directorate highlighted the case of a person who was harmed by a ‘pet’ baboon. It added that once these animals grow into full adults, they require facilities, food, space and socialising with their own species – all of which an average person cannot provide.
“In 2016, a baboon managed to escape from a farm in Samaheej and attacked people passing by, before being captured by the Bahrain Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve officials,” said Bahraini wildlife photographer Abdullah Hassan.
“In a private zoo last year, caged baboons managed to grab a small child by the head, ripping out chunks of her hair despite being confined,” he also claimed.
“Another man was viciously attacked by a male baboon he was raising after he tried to prevent his pet from attacking some chickens.”
According to Mr Hassan, although there are no cases of baboons being dumped in the country yet, there are indicators of that occurring in the near future.
“People who have bought baby baboons during the Covid-19 pandemic will not be able to control the animals for long and will soon attempt to resell them,” he fears.
“They may put them up for adoption or dump them on other breeders. Imagine once they mature and grow in strength, size and aggression. No-one will accept them, which perhaps makes the idea of dumping them an option.”
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