Monkeys being shot on a daily basis in La Lucia/uMhlanga
Last week, the organisation found a six-week-old baby vervet monkey which had been shot through the neck on Forest Drive in La Lucia.
MONKEY Helpline has slammed the ‘disgusting’ and ‘illegal’ practice of shooting vervet monkeys. Steve Smit of the organisation, said they had seen a marked increase in monkey related shootings in the North Durban area in the past three weeks. According to Smit, the organisation has responded to incidents where monkeys were maimed or killed by air rifles or pellet guns on an almost daily basis.
Last week, the organisation found a six-week-old baby vervet monkey which had been shot through the neck on Forest Drive in La Lucia. The young primate later succumbed to its injuries despite Smit’s best efforts.
“Vervet monkeys are protected in terms of both national and provincial conservation legislation and also in terms of national animal protection legislation, and injuring or killing them is an offence. Pellet guns can not only maim or kills animals but also injure or kill people.
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“It is an offence to discharge a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act in a manner likely to injure or endanger the safety or property of any person. It’s also an offence to discharge a firearm in the built-up area or any public space,” he explained. “Both Carol (Booth) and I are responding to monkeys being injured or killed in the uMhlanga and La Lucia.”
Smith said he urged residents who witnessed any shootings to come forward and report the matter.
“The biggest problem we face is the fact that residents don’t want to get involved. They will phone and tell us all about the horrific incident but want to remain anonymous. We can’t do anything in that case, we need them as a witness and for them to open a case with the SAPS.
“I urge residents to please make statements, open cases and in that way we can make a difference by making an example of someone who wants to break the law. The person who has been shooting vervets in La Lucia specifically is not only endangering the vervets but it could also be endangering residents’ pets and children,” he said.
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