Pellet gun wielder orphans another baby vervet

THE bad spell for baby vervet monkeys in Durban North continues after another baby was orphaned on Monday night. The mother died, despite rescue efforts of local NPO, Monkey Helpline after three lead pellet wounds had become severely infected.

At a mere seven weeks the tiny creature had suffered significant trauma. Not only had her mother been killed, but she herself experienced a brush with death.

According to Steve Smit, of the Monkey Helpline, the baby nearly drowned in a pool at a home in Gainsford Road in La Lucia on Sunday, but was saved by the quick thinking of the home owner. “We suspect that the baby fell into the pool when the mother tried to drink some water. The babies usually cling to the underbelly of the mother. The baby was unable to climb out on her own, and with the weak state of the mother would have drowned if the owner hadn’t saved her,” he said.

After rescuing the tiny creature Brian Sinclairtown returned her to the mother. When he noticed that she was extremely weak he immediately contacted the NPO. The unfortunate primates were rescued and the mother rushed to the vet, where she later died.

“She was so weak she allowed me to touch her. She could barely take a few steps before tumbling over. It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Sinclairtown.

The baby is now under the care of Carol Booth, who runs the Monkey Helpline with Smit. “She has been crying terribly and calling for her mom. She keeps looking at the window, expecting her to return. The little babies are so use to being close to their mommy, who never puts them down. The death of the mother is generally  huge trauma,” said Booth. To ease the trauma the babies are usually paired with other orphans.

To date 35 orphaned babies have been rescued in Durban since September, the start of the baby season.