DEAR Editor,-
Monkeys are inhabitants of coastal forests from Knysna to northern KZN.
Today vervet monkeys coexist with humans in the South Coast suburban forest mosaic.
Humans have encroached on the forest and alien trees threaten monkey food supplies.
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Vervet monkeys are integral to the renewal of indigenous forest ecosystems and also are a huge tourist draw-card.
Children and adults from areas without monkeys enjoy watching them and these creatures need to seen as an asset of the KZN coastal zone.
Roads are dangerous and threaten their future, as monkeys need to constantly crisscross ground linear transport lines in search of food and safety.
Is it not possible to create simple bridges for them to cross dangerous thoroughfares?
So, locals can keep their garbage off the streets until the morning of collection.
Recently an adult male vervet monkey was knocked down by a hit and run driver and his body was left in the road with the assumption that he died on impact.
This happened outside the Umtentweni shopping centre on the main road to Sea Park, just before the traffic lights.
Any witnesses to this incident are urged to come forward.
MARC CAPLAN
Professional Natural Scientist (ecologist)
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