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Gambia News: Baboons on rampage in Jiffin

by Sanna Jawara,  Jiffin Village in Jarra West, Lower River Region (LRR), has become the scene of baboons’ rampage, destroying crops of farmers, especially the women’s rice fields.

With a view to containing this great threat the farming community spared no time to react quickly to such circumstances. Thus, the youths who were armed to the teeth, started to hunt down the baboons.
The author of these lines witnessed one particular incident, where youths went on a hunting spree of baboons.
However, to the dissatisfaction of the youths the hunting bears no fruits as no baboon was killed.

Some of the youths who spoke to the Daily Observer expressed anger over the attitude of the baboons, describing it as heartless and nonsense, considering the period of the rainy season.
“Really speaking these baboons deserve to be treated harshly. Their freedom in the bush has driven them to nothing, but the women’s rice-the main source of our living. Honestly, there is no more room for complacency towards them,” said Sheriffo Jawara, a grade 9 student at Kaiaf Lower Basic Circle.

Dembo Kuyateh, who led the youths resolutely decided to deal with the baboons, and described them as posing real danger, especially to the rice fields.

 According to him, in most cases they dig fresh seeds of rice that are dug in the fields.
“These baboons don’t want us to have good rice harvest, how would we survive if all the rice seeds are destroyed by the baboons”, said Saikou Jawara in a pathetic tone. He then blamed the escape of the baboons on their poor strategy of tracking them down.