Can Humans and Baboons Live Together?

A baboon sitting on top of my neighbor’s roof recently.

Earlier this year, my wife and I moved to Kommetjie, South Africa, a small village near the tip of the Cape Peninsula known for its coastline, surfing, and natural vistas. Since the Covid-19 lockdowns, Kommetjie has grown in size as newly minted remote workers have left the city center in search of value and fresh air.

The influx of new residents (and the sheer number of new housing developments)…