Monkey maintenance causing violence in Tzaneen
One of Tzaneen's community Facebook groups ignited with emotion after a troop of vervet monkeys viciously attacked and killed a house pet.
The Herald reported last year on the Vervet nuisance spreading throughout Tzaneen. The monkeys have been raiding homes, schools and farms in search of food, and sometimes entertainment, it seems. The local Vervet Foundation outside Tzaneen has issued several tips and warnings over the years for dealing with the menace. But residents have expressed that deterrence has proven inadequate for keeping the pests at bay. Some have even turned to lethal alternatives such as pellet guns, air rifles and even firearms.
They perceive the monkeys to exhibit aggressive behaviour. The recent case of the violent death of the Yamorna sausage dog at the hands of a merciless monkey attack is no isolated event. The very same family suffered the loss of another puppy three years ago, despite following all tips and tactics for keeping the monkeys away. And several other community members came forward reporting attacks on their pets.
TZANEEN: Vervet monkey dies after pellet shot
Dave du Toit of the Vervet Foundation explains that aggression in vervet monkeys is a rare occurrence, and that the monkeys tend to attack when facing a threat from other animals. He explained that what often happens is that a pet dog would attack the monkeys as intruders trying to get into their masters’ homes, and this is generally when the monkeys attack. Du Toit emphasises that the monkeys become more intrusive when people feed them or allow them to get too close without chasing them away. He suggests the use of water pistols or hosepipe blasts to reinforce their presence being unwelcome, and also warns the community to secure their garbage bins to disallow monkey access.
Five pain-free ways to manage the monkey menace
Some residents have had enough though, and claim they have done all they could to chase them away without success. They are frustrated- even irate. And they are willing to protect their homes with violence and gunfire if necessary. The debate is a difficult one. And an especially emotional one, when considering the physical harm inflicted by monkeys on both humans and their animals alike. The Vervet Foundation, being a non profit organisation, simply does not have the resources to capture monkeys on call to release them into the wild. Methods of deterrence seem to be ineffective at times. And home owners shooting at monkeys in residential areas hardly seems safe for humans or wildlife.
Child mistaken for monkey shot dead in KZN
Either way, residents are called to understand that the town of Tzaneen has experienced large scale expansion in recent years, and this clearly plays a role in the behaviour of the wildlife. They’re migrating across town and into residential areas in search of food. Many places that used to be densely overgrown with bush and trees have been replaced by cold concrete and mega metal structures. Amidst all the commercial, industrial and residential expansion Tzaneen is experiencing, why is there so little progress in zoning parks and bushy areas for the wildlife to occupy?
See also: Guess Who’s Visiting Your Garden? Vervet monkeys
Imagine having a picnic in Tzaneen’s very own botanical gardens, for example? There are actually very many opportunities for economic development and Tzaneen’s growth as a tourist destination. We need parks, people.
