Three days to catch Vervet monkey in Ivory Park
IVORY PARK - MIDRAND SPCA's Brenda Lucas told Midrand Reporter that for the second time this year, the animal shelter was called out to rescue a vervet monkey.
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The first was rescued earlier this year and released in Hartbeespoort.
Lucas said, “On 12 May, inspectors Jerry Seemise and Theo Mokgatle were called to the scene, but it was already [dark] at 7pm, and rescue assistance could not be contacted.
“The following day inspectors returned to the scene, but the monkey had moved away.”
Inspectors and volunteers from the community worked together to try and find the monkey.
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“As the Midrand SPCA does not have our own cage, we had to contact rescue centre Claw to assist us to get the monkey to safety,” Lucas explained.
Lucas said Cora Bailey from Claw provided a cage, but by the time they managed to find it, the monkey had been traumatised and moved higher up a tree. As it was again dark, the inspectors had to leave without catching the monkey.
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On the third day, the monkey came down the tree and was safely caught. It had sustained minor injuries when community members threw stones at it to get it to come down.
The monkey, called Themba, which means Hope, was sent to the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
FreeMe thanked everyone involved in safely rescuing the monkey, including the community of Ivory park, Claw, Ivory Park EMS, City Power and SPCA inspectors and staff.
If you would like to donate money to buy a cage trap for the SPCA, contact Brenda Lucas.
Details: info@midrandspca.co.za
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