THE Monkey Helpline has made an impassioned plea to the public to immediately report anyone they know or suspect of shooting at monkeys, or any other animal, with a pellet gun.
“Anyone discharging a pellet gun in a built up area or anywhere else where there is a risk of injury or damage to another person or property is committing an offence and can be prosecuted in terms of the Firearm Control Act, and in many cases also the Animal Protection Act,” said Steve Smit, the organisations coordinator.
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Smit said they rely heavily on the public to help stop this cruelty and to bring these criminals to book.
“The cruel and cowardly behaviour of a person who would maliciously shoot two pellets into a ten week-old baby monkey is a danger to everyone who lives around him or her. We need to eliminate the danger these people pose to our safety including that of our children and our pets,” he said.
According to Smit, the use of an air gun in residential areas, or anywhere else that holds the risk of injury or damage to person or property, is a crime punishable by the courts. This is very clearly spelt out in the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000, Section 120, Paragraphs 3(b) and 7.
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Monkey Helpline cannot bring an end to air gun violence against monkeys and other animals, and potentially even your children, without the cooperation of the public.
“We need to be notified of any person discharging, or reasonably suspected of discharging, an air gun in a residential area, and charges must be brought against that person by the witness to the incident.”
“Successful prosecution of air gun offenders is the only way we will be able to protect innocent animals against the indefensible cruelty that results from air gun violence,” said Smit.
Contact the Monkey Helpine on 082 659 4711 (Steve) or steve@monkeyhelpline.co.za and 082 411 5444 (Carol) or carol@monkeyhelpline.co.za.
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