City of Cape Town's baboon management plan heads to court

The City of Cape Town's baboon management plan is being challenged in court.

It includes the removal and relocation of troops, as well as a provision to euthanise any baboon that breaches Constantia Nek or a fence, which is to be completed later this year.

However, the Liberty Fighters Network is in court on Thursday, claiming the advisory body responsible for developing the plan may have acted beyond its jurisdiction.

The Liberty Fighters Network argues that the only provincial authority with jurisdiction to make decisions about animal populations is the Western Cape Commissioner of the Environment.

However, the province does not currently have such a commissioner.

The organisation's Reyno de Beer claims that while the City of Cape Town had informed them in November that the plan had been finalised, they've since learned it was only completed at the end of January.

"We're basically saying that the court must issue an interim order so that the entire plan is put on hold, pending the outcome of the court case or alternatively, pending the outcome of the appointment of the commissioner by the Western Cape Premier and also the investigation to take place."

The City of Cape Town has declined to comment, saying it will allow the court process to unfold.