WARNING – GRAPHIC PIC: No evidence that animals spread Covid-19 so stop shooting monkeys
There has been a string of horrific cases in the Scottburgh and Toti suburbs.
Animals and pets are not linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, says Tracy Rowles of Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre.
She is calling on people to stop shooting monkeys as according a recent statement from the World Health Organisation, there was no evidence that animals infect humans with Covid-19.
ALSO READ: World Health Organisation: No evidence that animals infect humans with Covid-19
“People are even dumping their pets, thinking that they’re going to give them the virus,” added Tracy.
Tracy, together with the Durban-based Monkey Helpline, is working around the clock picking up shot monkeys almost daily because of this mistaken belief.
Tracy has been dealing with a string of horrific cases in the Scottburgh and Toti suburbs.
One case involved a female monkey in Pennington which had been shot six times in the chest.
Due to the spinal damage she suffered and her age, she could not be returned to her natural habitat.
A reward of R5 000 has been offered by an anonymous donor for anyone with information about this shooting.
Recently, someone in Postlooper Circle in Illovo Glen shot four lactating females in the chest.
“In most cases the females have babies out there which will probably die as they have no protection from a mother and 99.9 percent of the time tag-along orphans are killed by their own troop.”
Tracey recently received a disturbing report of a group of people in Hibberdene planning to shoot monkeys.
“People were overheard in a shop discussing how vervet monkeys are carrying the virus and now some members of the the community are shooting them. Information needs to get out there that animals are not spreading the virus, only people are.”
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