Officials in Cape Town blamed the marauders’ behavior on tour operators who have “baited” the scenic destination with food to attract the primates.

Municipal authorities acted swiftly to halt the practice, designed to provide opportunities for visitors to capture images of the baboons.

“Any tour operator caught doing so can be charged under national conservation legislation,” the city’s executive director for the environment, Piet van Zyl, said in a statement.

He also appealed to the public to exercise extreme caution while near the baboons.

Cape Town's baboons are a protected species under South African law, but national park rangers are sometimes forced to kill the monkeys when they become too aggressive.

City and park authorities are planning a "baboon summit" to try to explore non-lethal methods to prevent human-baboon conflicts.

Photo: SAPA