The removal of about 100 monkeys from the Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife last Monday (March 29) caused an outcry in the community.
The centre’s owner, Tracy Rowles is well known along the coast as she has for a number of years rehabilitated injured monkeys and released them back into the wild.
After the removal of the monkeys, Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre subsequently sought legal action and released two media statements on the issue.
Another animal welfare organisation, the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW which accompanied Ezemvelo during the removal also released a statement.
Press Release 1 from Umsizi:
Persecution of Umsizi Vervet Rescue – Not Prosecution
The matter of Umzizi Vervet Rescue versus Ezemvelo Kzn Wildlife was held at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 31 March 2021 before the Honorable Judge Koen.
The matter has been adjourned to 1 April 2021 for a ruling in respect of the interim order sought by Umzizi Vervet Rescue.
We are saddened to advise members of the public and concerned animal activists that Ezemvelo Kzn Wildlife has advised that it has euthanised all monkeys uplifted and seized on 29 March 2021.
At this stage Umzizi Vervet Rescue is unaware as to the method used to euthanise these animals.
It is indeed a gravely sad day for Umsizi Vervet Rescue whose rescue monkeys were murdered by the very persons sworn to uphold and protect animal rights. This was done by forcefully entering the premises of Umsizi Vervet Rescue without a warrant.
It must be stated on record that all monkeys seized were healthy and that Umsizi Vervet Rescue has the necessary medical records to prove this fact.
Umsizi Vervet Rescue is concerned as to the involvement of CROW and its director Clint Halkett-Siddall in urging Ezemvelo Kzn Wildlife to get the SPCA to charge Tracy.
We place on record an email sent to Umsizi Vervet Rescue in error by CROW of which was meant to be directed to Ezemvelo Kzn Wildlife in which the following was stated verbatim : “Do you know if the SPCA will also be pressing charges as Luke informed the volunteer that he would like to meet with Tracy to further discuss the conditions in which the monkeys were kept. I statement by them would be most helpful in putting an end to the Tracy support on social media.”
This email was sent from CROW in error to Umsizi Vervet Rescue. Umsizi Vervet Rescue is grateful for the knowledge that it erroneously received.
Umsizi Vervet Rescue is overwhelmed by its supporters and its director Tracy expresses her gratitude and appreciation for all the support that she has received.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has been silent and has refused to communicate with the attorneys acting for Umsizi Vervet Rescue insofar as questions raised regarding the seized monkeys. It has also remained silent on the request for an autopsy of the monkey that died in its custody.
Umsizi Vervet Rescue will be pursuing an Access to Information Application against Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife insofar as the methods used for euthanasia and an explanation as to why the 21 days as per the Conservation Ordinance of 1974 was not complied with allowing Umsizi Vervet Rescue to appeal the decision to seize and confiscate these monkeys. This is regulated by law.
This is a sad day for animal welfare, non-profit organizations and animal activists who work tirelessly day in day out and who more often than not, pay towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of not only monkeys, but all other animals into society.
It appears that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife had a single agenda when it arrived at the premises of Umzizi Vervet Rescue and that was to uplift these monkeys in whatever manner possible for the sole purpose of euthanasia.
Press Release 2 from Umsizi:
It is indeed a small but bittersweet victory for Umsizi Vervet Rescue who on 1 April 2021 was granted an interdict against Ezemvelo Kzn Wildlife from removing the remaining monkeys and babies from its care.
The reason for the bittersweet victory is that due to the actions of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife notwithstanding a permit application pending, who then entered the premises of Umsizi Vervet Rescue without notice on 29 March 2021 and removed monkeys which were immediately euthanised after leaving the premises of the sanctuary. These were healthy monkeys.
This has resulted in a large mainstream movement which has brought the Animal Rescue and Welfare world together for the first time in unification to fight the injustice perpetrated by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife against Umsizi Vervet Rescue.
We emphatically place on record that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has refused to communicate with and respond to serious questions raised by Umsizi Vervet Rescue regarding the manner in which monkeys were euthanised.
Let this be a lesson to all those giants out there who are were placed in positions of power to protect animals and further animal conservation schemes, animal welfare organisations are not organisations to be trifled with and a regardless of the balance of power that may exist good always prevails over evil.
It must be noted that absolute power corrupts absolutely. This one small victory will be the catalyst for many more victories to come.
Umsizi Vervet Rescue places on record that in the coming weeks there will be further applications brought against Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that will deal with the series of events that unfolded on 29 March 2021.
Press Release from Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW)
In response to the allegations regarding CROW’s involvement in the confiscation of the vervet monkeys by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife from Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue, we would like to state as follows:
CROW is an accredited and fully permitted wildlife rehabilitation centre for all indigenous wildlife species including threatened and protected species (TOPS) both terrestrial and marine. CROW rescues, rehabilitates, and releases up to 4000 animals a year, servicing the entire KZN region.
On 29th March Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife requested that CROW assist them, as a consulting team, with the capture of the monkeys at Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue that were allegedly being kept in appalling conditions – as they did not have the expertise to do so.
CROW agreed to assist with the capture in order to limit the stress and injuries of the monkeys during the seizure, as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife were going to proceed with the capture regardless.
CROW was not able to catch the monkeys with a net, in most cases due to the size and conditions of the enclosures as well as obstructions and therefore had to catch by hand, securing the tail and back of the neck.
This is a term called scruffing and is a catching method approved by accredited rehabilitation facilities around the country. Handling in this manner does not cause damage or injury to the animal and is one of the safest techniques for both the handlers and animal.
CROW has offered to temporarily house the monkeys. This offer was however not taken up by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and we were subsequently advised that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife had made the necessary alternative arrangements. CROW does not have any of these monkeys on our premises nor do we know the whereabouts of the monkeys or have any decision-making authority in this regard.
In an attempt to assist with the relocation of the monkeys, CROW has secured a release site for approximately 30 of the monkeys which are currently still on Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue’s property. When these monkeys are released, CROW has offered the use of our hacking enclosures as well any equipment required for the release.
The email sent by the CROW Operations Director to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in which he legitimately enquired as to whether the SPCA were going to continue their investigation, based on the unacceptable condition in which the enclosures were in (rusty nails sticking out, broken planks and contamination).
We are in possession of video footage of the condition of the enclosures, reflecting the appalling conditions in which these animals were kept. We are not able to share this footage at this given time due to the current litigation in this regard, involving Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
We would like to make it clear that CROW distances itself from any decision made by EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE to euthanize any of the confiscated monkeys
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Various divisions of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) seized close to 100 Vervet Monkeys that were kept illegally in Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre on Monday, March 29.
The Herald has tried to contact the owner for comment without success since Monday.
The owner was charged with breaking two sections of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 15 of 1974.
The two sections that she failed to adhere to are:
- Section 80 (1) of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 15 of 1974 which states that “No person shall keep in captivity any indigenous mammal or exotic mammal, except in terms of a permit granted under subsection 2 of section 84 and in accordance with the conditions, if any, imposed under subsection (3) of that section.”
- Section 213 (4B) which states that “Any person who fails to comply with any lawful demand made by any Officer or honorary Officer under this Ordinance, or wilfully gives any false or misleading information in pursuance of such demand shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred rand, or in default payment, to imprisonment for any term exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
“The owner of Umsizi Vervet Rescue Centre had been given 21 days’ notice on February 4, 2021 to remove the monkeys. She was charged on March 29 and was given a R1500 fine,” said Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife communications manager Musa Mntambo
All vervet monkeys removed by Ezemvelo Game Capture Unit will be disposed of in accordance with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals.
These guidelines include
- returning confiscated animals to the wild;
- returning confiscated animals in captivity and
- Euthanasia.
According to Mr Mntambo, the consulting team that assisted in confiscating all monkeys, first walked around the property viewing all occupied outdoor enclosures which each housed between five to approximately 30 Vervet Monkeys.
The monkeys were kept in five different enclosures. In one enclosure next to the kitchen, there were multiple monkeys housed in an extremely small (3.5m x 2m) and dark outdoor area with no sun availability and no perches (except for one beam which was attached to broken and rusting steel mesh).
The walls and floors were covered in old faecal matter and had to be swept out by the consulting team before catching could begin.
The SPCA began catching in the second enclosure, netting a few individuals, but the consulting team took over. The floor was covered in sludge and faecal matter with the team having to clean their boots multiple times in order to prevent slipping while catching.
The team noticed a male which was looking lethargic and caught him up immediately and boxed him as an individual. Whilst the rest of the catching was done, this male was monitored throughout.
Catching was particularly difficult in this enclosure as multiple areas of roofing were rusted and damaged as well as having broken mesh in and around the enclosure.
The fourth enclosure housed six individuals. This enclosure showed the most obvious health and safety concerns. Large nails were sticking out of the walls, rotting roofing and broken floor boards allowed for monkeys to hide in these unsanitary, unsafe areas.
One monkey caught its cheek on an exposed nail which created a small superficial cut along its cheek. These monkeys were boxed together.
Each troop other than the smaller groups were split into two large boxes with a capacity between six and 10 individuals. The boxes are 1.5m x 1.2m x 1m with a steel frame as to ensure the safety of the monkeys while being transported.
Dr. Roy Jones, Ezemvelo’s District Conservation Manager – Ethekwini expressed his appreciation to SPCA and all officials involved in the rescue of these monkeys and further warned that Ezemvelo will continue to confiscate animals that are kept without official permit.
(Story edited)
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