Posted on 08/30/2010 10:48:22 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The sun is setting over South Africa's oldest vineyard and the last of the wine-tasting tourists are climbing onto their buses. But one large family group has no intention of leaving – and there is little the management can do about it.
Groot Constantia, in the heart of Cape Town's wine country, can deal with inebriated holidaymakers – but it is invading baboons which have developed a taste for its grapes that the wine makers are struggling with.
Each day, dozens of Cape Baboons gather to strip the ancient vines – the sauvignon blanc grapes are a particular favourite – before heading into the mountains to sleep. A few, who sample fallen fruit that has fermented in the sun, pass out and don't make it home.
"They are not just eating our grapes, they are raiding our kitchens and ripping the thatch off the roofs. They are becoming increasingly bold and destructive," said Jean Naude, general manager at the vineyard, which is celebrating its 325th birthday this year. Guards banging sticks and waving plastic snakes have been deployed with only limited success, and not even a blast of a vuvuzela, the plastic horn made famous at the World Cup, seems to frighten them.
It is not just the vineyards in South Africa which are under siege, however, but also the exclusive neighbouring suburb of Constantia, home to famous residents including Earl Spencer, Wilbur Smith and Nelson Mandela.
Crisis meetings between animal welfare groups and traumatised locals are struggling to find a workable solution.
"Where there's a mountain, there's a baboon," said Justin O'Riain of the Baboon Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. "As we take up more and more of their land, the conflict increases."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Ooooh, ouch. No. I have a 1982 Suzuki GS1100. Hubby has a 1982 Katana, a “1979” Dunstall Norton (new construct from older bikes — California motorcycle registration rules called it a “1979”), and a spare Norton for parts.
I don’t ride anymore because of my arthritis.
Just wait till try crack. Then they’ll think they can come to American and run for President.
“Just wait till try crack.”
ROFL! Good one! [The rest was funny, too.]
Have they not tried appeasement yet?
0bama voter??
And ACORN workers.
lol
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