MONKEY activists, Steve Smit and Carol Booth of the Monkey Hepline (MH) have expressed outrage after they received a call regarding a trapped monkey on Grove Crescent in Durban North last week.
The duo believes that the adult female vervet was trapped purposefully by workers on the property, either to be sold as muti or a food source.
The owner of the property denied any knowledge of the trap or trapped monkey. MH reported the incident to the Durban & Coast SPCA and an inspector later arrived at the property. An inspection confirmed that no other animals were trapped at the site.
He advised the property owner to destroy all the traps on the property and handed over a written warning, stating that the trapping of wild animals was illegal, and that if they were to find another trapped animal on his premises he would be held legally accountable.
“It happens in people’s gardens more often that one would think, even in Durban North. We have found snares at the bottom of people’s gardens and rescued countless trapped monkeys,” added Smit.
He added that they will also be monitoring the property to ensure that no other attempts are made to trap any animals.
