Update: Monkey saved by the Randburg SPCA recovering well at vet hospital
RANDBURG – Randburg SPCA staff risk their own lives rather than leaving the animal to die.
Update: 29 April 2020
The vervet monkey captured and brutally beaten in the informal settlement of Msawawa near Bloubosrand on 17 April is recovering well after being treated at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
This is according to Randburg SPCA inspector Shiven Bodasing, who explained that the SPCA had managed to grab the unconscious and bleeding animal from a mob who had tied a noose around its neck.
“The team was barred from leaving by people demanding to be paid,” he said. The angry crowd turned on the SPCA vehicle, breaking open the canopy to gain access to the kennel housing the still-unconscious monkey.
The team was finally able to negotiate its way out of the situation and rushed the badly injured monkey to the veterinary hospital.
Bodasing said no action would be taken against those involved. “Unfortunately it was an impossible situation and finding and charging a suspect is just unattainable given the circumstances.”
Initial report: 19 April 2020
A violent and strong mob of people almost took the life of a Vervet monkey and put the lives of three Randburg SPCA workers at risk on 17 April. According to the SPCA they received a call informing them that a group of people had captured and brutally beaten the animal in the informal settlement of Msawawa (located near Bloubosrand).
After being charged at by the crowd, quickly taking the monkey from the clutches of the group and negotiating their exit, the team was able to rescue the monkey from near death and get it some much needed veterinary care at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
Upon the team’s arrival at Msawawa they were directed to where the monkey was being held and as they arrived and exited the vehicle a large group of people charged at them.
To make matters worse they did so while holding the unconscious and bleeding animal with a noose tied around its neck. One of the SPCA members rushed to the monkey and took it from the mob and it was quickly put inside the back of the SPCA response vehicle.
At this point the SPCA members confirmed that the monkey was still alive and breathing and needed medical attention as soon as possible. The crowd didn’t take this act lightly and that’s when the situation become life-threating to the SPCA staff as well.
According to a post on the Randburg SPCA Facebook page, their vehicle was barred from leave the scene with people in the crowd demanding payment. Angry members of the mob began breaking open the back of the SPCA vehicle’s canopy and broke into the kennel housing the still unconscious monkey.
The post says the group managed to grab the rope noosed around the animal’s neck and attempted to viciously yank it out of the vehicle. Luckily this was noticed by one of the vehicles occupants and he grabbed hold of the rope and secured the animal back inside the vehicle.
The staff members had no choice but to try negotiate their exit from the situation and managed to do so, fleeing the scene en route to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital who were already informed of the incoming compromised patient. SPCA confirmed that the dedicated staff at the hospital were giving the monkey the highest level of care and thanked them for their outstanding dedication, compassion, and unwavering assistance.
