Good fences make good neighbours : a qualitative, interpretive study of human–baboon and human–human conflict on the Cape Peninsula

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Picturesque Cape Town is the epitome of an urban/nature interface but one within whichchacma baboons (Papio ursinus) face slander for transgressing both the socially constructedhuman/animal and nature/culture divide, and/or the actual, physical borderlines associated withthese divides. The difficulties associated with retaining baboons in nature, because of their ability totraverse physical boundaries, have led to human–baboon conflict. Even though research focusing onbaboon biology on the Cape Peninsula is abundant, comparatively little attention has been paid tothe human aspects of the conflict. By making use of a social constructionist theoretical framework, Iwished to establish what attitudes and values play a defining role in different social constructions ofchacma baboons, specifically those who often cross the urban/nature divide; what these differentsocial constructions are; whether they differ among the various stakeholders that were included inthis research; and whether there is a willingness amongst stakeholders to adjust to, accommodate, orat least understand 'other social constructions. The research is strongly motivated by a suggestionin the literature that human–human conflict underpins human–wildlife conflict.The main data collection method used in this research project was personal, semi-structuredinterviews with members of various stakeholder groups that are involved in the Cape Peninsula's'baboon debate, i.e. governmental institutions, nongovernmental organisations, researchers,representatives of residential associations, local residents and journalists. In order to increase thetrustworthiness of my data and to gain an enhanced understanding of the complex socialinteractions, practices and belief systems which are embedded within human–baboon conflicts, Ialso analysed the discourse embedded in numerous forms of documentation that refer to the CapePeninsula's baboons.The findings from this research provide evidence that conflicts over beliefs and values,conflicts of interest, and conflicts over process are the prominent underlying causes of human–human conflict regarding baboons and baboon management on the Cape Peninsula. Conflicts overbeliefs and values seem to underpin all types of human–human conflict regarding baboons on theCape Peninsula, as human–baboon conflict is riddled with the Cartesian dualisms of urban (orculture) versus nature; human versus animal; biocentrism versus anthropocentrism; and rationalismversus affective social action. The opposition between the two ontologies of rationalism andaffective social action, which reflect divergent ways of thinking about baboons and are central toindividual's support of certain baboon-management techniques, is especially pronounced.Moreover, the ability of the Cape Peninsula's baboons to transgress the nature/culture, and even thehuman/animal, borderline not only leads to conflict between humans and baboons, but also amonghumans.This thesis recommends that, in order to effectively address human–human conflict overbeliefs and values, as well as human–baboon conflict, the numerous stakeholders on the CapePeninsula should identify a common significance of baboons. While I would refrain from declaringthat human–human conflict is the actual source of human–baboon conflict, addressing the humandimensions of human–wildlife conflict remains an important though neglected issue.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University