CROW shares fun facts about Vervet monkeys

The Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Yellowood Park, is still Durban’s only registered non-profit wildlife rehabilitation centre dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of all indigenous wildlife found in KwaZulu-Natal.

The centre assists more than 3000 orphaned, injured and displaced animals every year and one of their common admissions is the Vervet monkey which is quite popular in Durban.

READ: CROW’s wands for wildlife

Troops of Vervet monkeys have been known to defend their territory if it includes prime resources, keeping other troops out and away from their area. However, when resources are not at stake, troops can share space for a limited time, as a group is travelling to a new location.

Fun facts about Vervet monkeys:

• Gestation: 5.5 months
• Number of young at birth: 1
• Weight at birth: 12 ounces (340 grams)
• Age of maturity: Females – 2.5 to 4 years old; males – 5 years old
• Scientific name: Chlorocebus pygerythrus
• Life span: 13 years

• Typically only one baby is born to each mother; twin Vervet monkeys are uncommon. When babies are born, they are covered in black hair and have pink faces.
• Vervet monkeys are fascinated by infants in the group and will try to groom them any chance they get. However, the mother’s close family has first access to the new baby, and everyone else has to wait their turn.

• They have characteristic cheek pouches like other members of the super-family Cercopithecoidea, which allow them to forage and store food to be eaten later.
• Vervet monkeys move quadrupedally, and they are equally as comfortable on the ground as they are in the trees.

READ: Crocodile lover to sink his teeth into his new CROW role

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