Mother's anguish as baboon attacks baby
Tue May 15, 2018 10:07:am Africa
4.6K By Obiaks Blog
A Zimbabwean mother, Jean Gama, has recounted the moment she found her one-year-old daughter being mauled by a baboon outside their home, where she had been playing her sibling.
Gama said the attack by the primate which happened about two weeks back, left huge scars on her child's head and face.
According to news website Bulawayo24, Gama said "My daughter was playing outside the house with her 12-year-old brother, while I prepared breakfast for them at around 9am," she told The Standard.
"Suddenly I heard her scream like someone who was in severe pain.
"I rushed outside and found the baboon had sunk its teeth on her scalp and face.
"I hit it with a huge stone and that's when it finally loosened its grip on her before fleeing.
"Apparently the baboon wanted to take away my daughter's doll. The baboon's teeth penetrated her skull and I don't know what it means for her health as she grows up."
Gama, who sought treatment for her daughter in Zambia, where doctors gave the child several injections of antibiotics to prevent any infections, said she met another baboon bite victim in the hospital awaiting treatment when they arrived.
"When we took her to hospital she was bleeding profusely and was unconscious," Gama said.
"At the hospital there was another woman whose son had also been bitten by a baboon."
Areas including Chinotimba, Aerodrome, Bongoland and the central business district have been invaded by baboons in recent years, breaking windows and doors in search of food.
Reuben Dube, a Chinotimba resident said: "We keep our windows and doors closed all the time because of the marauding baboons. They take away anything they find in the house and we no longer have gardens because they destroy our crops.
"We have made several reports to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) but they don't respond."
Dube added that parents now accompany their children to and from school on a daily basis out of fear of attack by the baboons.
However, Zimparks blamed the influx of baboons in residential areas on residents that give them food.
"They must not be given food or anything," Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said.
Gama said the attack by the primate which happened about two weeks back, left huge scars on her child's head and face.
According to news website Bulawayo24, Gama said "My daughter was playing outside the house with her 12-year-old brother, while I prepared breakfast for them at around 9am," she told The Standard.
"Suddenly I heard her scream like someone who was in severe pain.
"I rushed outside and found the baboon had sunk its teeth on her scalp and face.
"I hit it with a huge stone and that's when it finally loosened its grip on her before fleeing.
"Apparently the baboon wanted to take away my daughter's doll. The baboon's teeth penetrated her skull and I don't know what it means for her health as she grows up."
Gama, who sought treatment for her daughter in Zambia, where doctors gave the child several injections of antibiotics to prevent any infections, said she met another baboon bite victim in the hospital awaiting treatment when they arrived.
"When we took her to hospital she was bleeding profusely and was unconscious," Gama said.
"At the hospital there was another woman whose son had also been bitten by a baboon."
Areas including Chinotimba, Aerodrome, Bongoland and the central business district have been invaded by baboons in recent years, breaking windows and doors in search of food.
Reuben Dube, a Chinotimba resident said: "We keep our windows and doors closed all the time because of the marauding baboons. They take away anything they find in the house and we no longer have gardens because they destroy our crops.
"We have made several reports to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) but they don't respond."
Dube added that parents now accompany their children to and from school on a daily basis out of fear of attack by the baboons.
However, Zimparks blamed the influx of baboons in residential areas on residents that give them food.
"They must not be given food or anything," Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said.
"There is nothing much that we can do because they will be moving in their corridors. Residents must take safety measures while we do our part."
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