Post on 28-Oct-2015
description
BOOKLET FOR MEMBERS OF NMMU
GEORGE CAMPUS BABOON SPOTTING
NETWORK: REPORTING PROTOCOLS FOR
BABOON INFORMANTS
Peet Botes, s209074051
15 August 2013
Please read carefully
If you see a baboon or group of baboons on Saasveld, or baboons raid or
try to raid your residence and/or residences’ garbage bins:
please send an sms to Peet “The Baboon Guy” Botes at 072 352
7366;
texting the date and time when you spot them,
area location code of where you spot them and where you are
spotting them from (Please see attached pages), and
(if possible) their behaviour/s and habitat (Please see attached
pages).
If you prefer using email , you can send me your reports at
s209074051@live.nmmu.ac.za.
If you prefer using facebook , you can send your reports as messages to
the projects’ profile (Saasveld Baboons).
If you prefer using Whatsapp , you can send me your reports as
messages at 072 352 7366 .
Benefits of acting as an informant:
you are a Citizen Scientist, something which you could put on your
CV;
you are helping to address a situation which affects you as a
student, resident and/or staff member of NMMU George Campus,
Saasveld;
you are involved in the issues that affect the Saasveld community;
you are forming part of a Masters study which is looking into the
situation with the baboons, contributing to research on modern-day
environmental issues in the process; and
you will start to gain insight into the patterns and behaviours of
baboons the more you observe them.
Rules for reporting baboon occurrence on Saasveld:
be accurate and honest, any dishonesty will make your reports
invalid, discredit you as a participant in research and risk the
credibility of the study itself;
you have to start being aware of baboons in your immediate
environment, trying to always stay on track of movements and
sounds;
report if you see the same baboon in the same area location, but in
a different habitat;
report if you see the same baboon in a different area location;
report if you see a different baboon or group of baboons;
if you see the same baboon located in the same area location and
habitat for an hour or more since your first report, report at hourly
intervals;
an example of a sms report would be:
o John Borcherds, 2013-08-24, 08:45, Spotting from G15,
Baboons in F9;
o Behaviour: Socialising, Habitat: Pine plantation.
you can also make multiple spottings in one sms, for example:
o Sarah Kingsley, 2014-09-10, 09:15, Spotting from C4, baboons
in C6 & C7;
o C6-Behaviour: Socialising & Foraging, Habitat: Transformed;
o C7-Behaviour: Resting & Raiding, Habitat: Rec centre &
Transformed.
be clear about the area location of the baboons and the area
location you are reporting from;
the studys’ data will show a more complete view of the baboon
situation on Saasveld the fewer days you skip with your reports;
remember to always include the date, time, area locations and your
name in your baboon spotting reports, without it the data you report
cannot be used for analysis;
always report your spottings, even if you see me doing my own
observations of the same baboons; and
only report area locations, behaviours and habitats of baboons
before you possibly made any attempts to scare them off (when
they try to raid a house, for example).
Map legend
Undefined
Possible habitats:
Akkerdraai res Campus lawns (including rugby,
hockey, golf, soccer and cricket fields)
Aboria res Swimming pool (including old pub and
squash buildings)
Outeniqua res Semi-natural (all uncut lawn areas)
Kalander res Rehabilitation (the old tarmac road)
Oukraal res Netball and tennis courts
Kiepersol res Pine plantation
Tierkop res Indigenous forest
Petula res Lover’s lane
Furntech res North-South campus footpath
Kamassi res Van schaik bookshop
Umdoni res University shop
Dining hall
Rec centre
South campus classrooms/library/computer labs
Mopani hall
North campus office/admin
North campus research buildings/lab
Baboon behaviours:
Foraging: The acquisition and consumption of natural food
resources. Socialising: Grooming, mating, playing and/or fighting.
Resting: Being stationary in one location, often in a relaxed body
position.
Raiding: The acquisition and consumption of human food resources
(including garbage), or attempt to acquire human food resources.
Travelling: Defined as gradual movement across the landscape,
usually slow when accompanied with another behaviour and
sometimes fast when done alone.
Kind Regards, and Thank You for your participation.
Peet “The Baboon Guy” Botes
S209074051
072 352 7366
M.Tech Nature Conservation
Sustainability Research Unit
NMMU George Campus, Saasveld