A video clip of two chacma baboons patiently waiting at a zebra crossing before walking across the road with the help of a local baboon monitor has gone viral.

The video was initially shared by the non-profit, Green Group Simon’s Town, which showed one of their guides, Jaco, helping the primates to safely cross the busy road.

Since then, it has been picked up by influencers around the world, and shared hundreds of thousands of times.

While not only showcasing the natural beauty of the greater Cape Town, it also places a more positive light on the issue of baboons in urban settings.

There has been some debate and angst over baboons and humans clashing, especially in areas in the far south, with numerous reports of baboons ‘breaking into’ homes and trash cans to steal food.

Many residents are exasperated at the presence of baboons in their neighbourhoods,  but it’s the ever-increasing human urban expansion into baboon habitats which has forced these primates into suburbs.

The important job that monitors do is to steer them away from urban zones while ensuring their safety.

Green Group Simon’s Town has thanked Jaco for his commitment:

“To Jaco, thank you for being so committed to helping the baboons every single night. They are grateful as are the people who want their wellbeing,” the group wrote on Facebook.