The baboon behaved impeccably' : animal rights and welfare in South Africa, some recent foreign judgments, and the case of Macrae v State [SCA, 2014]

The matter concerned a dispute between conservation officials and persons who were asked by those conservation officials to care for a baboon, and who then refused to relinquish the baboon when the officials changed their minds. This led to a confrontation and the conviction of the accused on charges of theft and of obstructing or defeating the administration of justice. The appeal was successful, with the Supreme Court of Appeal finding that the official involved had not acted lawfully, with this unlawfulness stemming from 'classic bureaucratic overreach'.