This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
On November 16, 2019, a video surfaced on social media showing Multimedia University students being chased away from their basketball pitch by a group of baboons.
The incident is not the first time the students have encountered the wild animals, with reports of baboons and warthogs frequenting the university's Karen campus, which is adjacent to the Nairobi National Park.
According to Mitchelle Imani, a student at the university, the baboons are only seen when the university is in session, and they have been known to cause problems by stealing food, breaking into hostels, and even attending classes.
As opportunistic eaters, baboons feed on a wide range of food sources, including grass, meat, fish, and small antelopes. However, their habitats are being threatened due to overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and human settlement.
As a result, baboons are often intentionally poisoned and killed, with the African Wildlife Foundation describing them as a 'pest species.'
Students have previously pleaded with authorities to deal with the baboon menace, and the latest incident has raised concerns over their safety.
Richard (@Richard_Keep) shared a video on Twitter on October 13, 2018, showing warthogs in the university compound, while Ivyline Kadiiv (@IvylineW) shared a tweet on November 8, 2019, expressing concern over the baboons.
