A Kenya Wildlife Service trap has managed to capture a baboon in Akingli village in Kisumu West subcounty after years of suffering by farmers as primates invade farms.
The area situated in the outskirts of Kisumu city, is heavily infested with baboons and monkeys causing destruction of crops in the farms.
Residents are forced to be at their farms as early as 5am to prevent the moneys and baboons from raiding their farms.
The animals not only destroys crops but poses a danger to domestic animal.
Nicanor Odongo, a farmer said they have been reduced to living from hand to mouth because they cannot invest in farming.
"Most farmers almost lose half of their produce to the animals in almost every planting season," he said.
Odongo said over the years they have appealed to the government to capture the destructive animals and transfer them to parks.
About four weeks ago, KWS personnel set a trap in the area along the hills of Nyahera to capture the primates.
Odongo said the primates had kept off the trap for some time since they could feed on maize that was still in the farms.
With hunger setting in since there were no cobs in the farms, the primates started hunting for food everywhere.
The news of the captured baboon spread like bush fire in the village drawing hundreds of villagers who came to witness.
The trap is made up of steel, some maize cobs had been put inside to lure the animals. Once the animal steps inside to eat the maize cob, the trap closes immediately.
A group of baboons were milling around the trap trying to free one of their own who was caged.
Residents said the area is infested with the primates and the capture of one was a welcome move.
Salome Tolo, another resident said their area is fertile but they have not enjoyed their sweat as all the produce is eaten by the primates.
She said they now require many traps laid across the village to capture all the animals that have tormented them over the years, adding that poverty is entrenched in the village because of the primates.
By the time of going to press, KWS personnel who had been notified, had not arrived to relocate the animal.
According to residents, in 2014, they started spotting a few baboons in the area. However within two years, the numbers had increased to around 100.
"Currently as we speak, the numbers have increase to more than 300 monkeys and baboons," claimed Odongo.
-Edited by SKanyara
