Monkey shootings continue in uMhlanga
Carol Booth of Monkey Helpline, said the organisation has rescued a number of primates in the last two months that had been targeted by airguns.
DURBAN-based animal rescue organisation, Monkey Helpline, said it has noticed a spike in the number of monkeys being shot in the uMhlanga area.
Carol Booth of Monkey Helpline, said the organisation has rescued a number of primates in the last two months that had been targeted by airguns.
Booth said the response of some residents, fueled by lockdown frustrations and boredom, was to shoot at the monkeys with their airguns.
An area of specific concern was Chartwell Drive where there has been more than three shootings.
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“One of our latest rescues was shot through the eye and the pellet was lodged in its brain. Both Steve and I have noticed that monkey shootings have skyrocketed during lockdown. The cases we’ve seen in uMhlanga and in particular Chartwell Drive is alarming. One of the monkeys wounded in an incident dropped feet away from a domestic worker hanging clothes which goes to show the shooter doesn’t care about putting others in danger.
“At least 90 per cent of the monkeys we rescue and x-ray have at least one pellet encapsulated in them which goes to show how bad the problem is. The troop on Chartwell Drive is being decimated and we’ve seen their numbers decrease,” she said.
Smit appealed to the public to be vigilant and to report any shootings to the authority.
Contact Monkey Helpline on 082 659 4711 or 082 411 5444.
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