IT was a heartbreaking afternoon last Thursday when a monkey was rescued from a home near Dududu.
Scottburgh SAPS, KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife officials and Tracey Rowels from Umsizi Vervet Rescue Centre, went to the home after they had been tipped off that the indigenous animal was being kept as a pet.
Nicknamed Toy-boy, a two-year-old male, was apparently rescued as an infant by Skhumbuso Mbili who found the animal injured in the road.
Skhumbuso took him home, nursed him back to health and Toy-boy stuck around with his new ‘family’, roaming around the neighbourhood and making new friends.
Unfortunately, there are laws preventing an indigenous monkey from being kept as a pet.
Skhumbuso was heart-broken when Tracey Rowels came to remove Toy-boy and it was an emotional experience for everyone involved. Toy-boy is going to be rehabilitated so that he can one day be released back into the wild with other monkeys.
Tracey explained that he would need to learn monkey social skills before he could be released.
She is keeping in touch with Skhumbuso who is still keen to know how his ‘son’ is doing. Skhumbuso will be able to visit the Umsizi Rescue Centre and monitorToy-boy’s progress.
Tracey thanked the SAPS and KZN Ezemvelo officers for their assistance.
