A DURBAN-based animal rescue organisation, Monkey Helpline, has noted an increase in the number of monkeys it rescues after they have been shot with airgun pellets since the lockdown.
According to Steve Smit, chairperson of Monkey Helpline, the likely reason for this is that people are now forced to stay at home and experience monkeys far more frequently than usual.
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“The response of some airgun owners, fuelled by lockdown frustration and boredom, is to shoot at the monkeys with their airguns.”
Smit claimed the organisation rescues in excess of one thousand Vervet Monkeys every year, close to one hundred per month.
“Their injuries range from broken bones, head trauma, massive tissue damage, blindness, life-threatening bite wounds, poisoning, burns and more. These injuries are caused by dog bites, being run over by cars, shot with lead or steel pellets from airguns, electrocution on non-insulated high voltage power lines and transformers, being trapped or snared as bushmeat and for muti, and more,” explained Smit.
Smit said irrespective of the obvious reason for being rescued, common to more than 80 per cent of the monkeys rescued is the presence of lead or steel air gun pellets in various parts of their bodies.
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Smit emphasised that these pellets cause terrible pain and suffering, and many animals, monkeys included, endure a brutally cruel and lingering death when shot in the head, chest or abdomen.
“Many people see airguns as toys and mistakenly think that the pellet merely stings and bounces off an animal’s skin or fur. However, there are cruel and sadistic people who deliberately shoot pellets into animals to inflict pain, suffering and death,” said Smit.
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