Monkey nuisance needs to be addressed
Read this letter to the editor, as well as a response from Monkey Helpline - then comment below and let us know how you feel about the monkeys in your area.
EDITOR – Monkeys still come through the door pet flap, despite my dog and I still being inside the house, to make a big mess, eat and destroy on their way.
About 10 years ago, the troops were eight times smaller and they only passed through the complex two to three times a month.
It was painful to see them destroy our gardens and flowers, even coming inside. But now their behaviour is more aggressive and they are not even scared if I shoot at them with a paintball gun. The sound is even louder when I have no paintballs. They just hide behind the trees.
Steven of Monkey Helpline said shooting them with a paintball gun is like clapping your hands, which won’t help.
I called Steven, asking if they could try and control the fast growth of the troops. He said they cannot control the growth of the monkey population, and suggested I should buy a good water gun or spray them with the hosepipe. I tried that, but even the water hose can’t reach so high in the trees.
Three came through the door pet flap other day and wrecked my kitchen while I was watching TV. Steven said I must put a picture of a lion above the door flap, where the dog can go outside, because they are not scared of the rubber snakes like years ago anymore.
On Sunday I shot out about R60 worth of paintballs, but they stayed there the whole day, hiding behind trees and coming out into my garden when I went inside the house.
I am against hurting animals, but please dart and sterilise them, so that their population can diminish. The one big male tried to attack my dog and when I wanted to pick up my dog and run to the house, he tried to attack me. I had to face him the whole time while I walked backwards to go inside the house. Does something bad first have to happen before the Monkey Helpline looks at this problem from both sides and does something to help us too?
ELEANOR PIERRUS
Dwindling monkeys need to be protected
EDITOR – Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the letter you received from Eleanor Pierrus.
It is most unfortunate that many of the people who complain about the presence of vervet monkeys around their homes are hugely ignorant about who monkeys are, why they are here, what their behaviour means, and what one should or shouldn’t do when monkeys are around.
And these people, like Ms Pierrus, are influenced in their negative attitude towards the monkeys by the misconception that monkeys are breeding out of control and that this so-called ‘increase’ in the number of monkeys then leads to an invasion of gardens and homes, and the accompanying destruction of property.
In fact, tens of thousands of families in KZN live with the presence of monkeys around their homes every day. They do not resent the presence of these monkeys, and many are fascinated and entertained by the monkeys as they forage for food, play together or simply just get on with trying to survive in this increasingly monkey-unfriendly world. And none get randomly attacked and bitten. In the very few incidents of someone getting bitten by a free-ranging monkey, there have undoubtedly been aggravating circumstances which led to the incident.
Contrary to Ms Pierrus’ assertion that 10 years ago monkey troops “were eight times smaller” than they are now, the size of monkey troops in all the areas of KZN where Monkey Helpline daily carries out rescue or educational work is decreasing from one year to the next.
This observation is shared with us spontaneously by many people we encounter during rescues and talks, and even by people who randomly approach and ask if we have noticed a decrease in monkeys’ numbers.
REDUCE
Sterilising monkeys to reduce their numbers, as suggested by Ms Pierrus, is both impractical and unnecessary.
Monkeys are killed every day by, among others, dogs, cars on roads, being shot with firearms and air guns.
They are also electrocuted on high voltage powerlines, trapped or snared, and also die from natural causes, at a far greater rate than they are able to reproduce. So, rather than reduce their numbers, we should put in much more effort to protect them in order to ensure that they do not become extinct in our urban and other developed areas. I suggest Ms Pierrus put away her paintball gun and rather make use of the information on our website, www.monkeyhelpline.co.za, where she would learn that she has no reason to fear the monkeys.
Among many other things, she would also learn that the correct use of water, as I advised when we had our phone conversation, would ensure that the monkeys stay away from those areas of her garden and home where they are not welcome, and that her dog was not at risk of being attacked by the ‘big male’ monkey, who was most likely merely using defensive aggression posturing to intimidate the dog into not attacking him or any of the other monkeys present.
If Ms Pierrus, or anyone else, needs humane and practical assistance in dealing with monkeys, she simply has to contact us or use the information on the internet.
Monkey Helpline can be reached on 082-659-4711 or 082-411-5444 or e-mail info@monkeyhelpline.co.za or on Facebook at Monkey Helpline.
STEVE SMIT
Monkey Helpline Founder, Educator and Rescuer
On Tuesday the 14th of October an entire troop of monkeys entered our flat throughave our kitchen window (the kitchen window was open due to my flat getting very hot during the day and I have pets). They tore through the kitchen throwing parrot seed and anything they could get their hands on. The urinated and left faeces all over my house and proceeded to terrorise my parrot. I’m sorry but they are not even scared of is anymore. Its bad enough I have to burglar guards on my windows but now I must let my animals die of heat just to keep these pests out! Please can someone do something about these monkeys before more violent means have to be used to keep them out.
I totally agree with Steve. We live where there are a troop that come through our complex everyday. We have learnt to live with them. Making them suffer by shooting them is totally despicable. Maybe people should join Monkey Helplines FB page and see what us human beings are doing to these poor animals. It is NOT their fault we have taken over their habitat they are only trying to survive the best way that they can. Unfortunately our tourists and holiday makers don’t make it easier for us as they think they are so cute and they feed them. Stop blaming the monkeys for everything let us work together to help these poor animals.
I love the monkey’s in our area, and they bring a lot of pleasure and entertainment for my husband and I. they have never shown any aggression to my Staffie and Maltese, but then my pets don’t bark or chase them either, so maybe some people should control their pets better. I feel sick when I read or hear of the many very ignorant people who shoot and throw stones at these poor defenseless creatures, what would you do if they did the same to you??? Please people go onto the monkey helpline site and learn about these beautiful creatures before being cruel to them and harming them, think!!!! before you just act! They will enrich your lives if given half the chance, try a bit harder Mrs Pierrus!
I’m not going to argue that when they squabble amongst themselves they can be frightening to a bystander, and that on occasion I’ve feared for my two yappy dogs, but the monkey’s need is far greater than ours and therefore I am delighted when they arrive, and I toss bread and fruit over our boundary wall into the valley, where they go and feed. We’re currently feeding a big bull monkey who appears to have been ostracised from his troop, and he’s been coming daily to sit and stare at me until I notice him and throw him some bread and bananas. I’ve put a basin of water out on one of the terraces so they can drink and cool down. Hopefully Steve the Monkeyman will make a special effort to assist this unfortunate lady and get her to see how wonderful these creatures really are. Jane.
Ek is net ‘n besoeker van die Oos-Kaap en die apies is vir my te oulik. Ek raas met hulle as hul op my motor klim, maak deure en vensters toe. Maar nooit het ek vir hul kos gegee nie. Aap se kind is mos maar stout. Ek glo nie daarin om wild te skiet of seer te maak nie omdat ek in hul gebied ingaan.
I’ve had monkeys in every area I’ve stayed. But moving to Yellowwood Park recently, it seems even worse, I can’t even feed the birds and in half an hour yard is full of monkeys. One day came home and they had eaten all my eggs and apples that where in my kitchen. As far as I know its illegal to feed monkeys, if you keep feeding them they are going to come back. I would like to know all these fruit and veggie places (eg: Oxford, Food Lovers Market, etc) why don’t they donate all their over ripe or frot foods to Crow or Stanebank as this should stop monkeys from coming into our yards, coz they are just lOoking for food.
Eleanor it was painful for you to see them destroy your homes and gardens. I am sure that it was just as painful for them to watch humans destroy their homes and their gardens by flattening them to build houses for a race that protect and cherish nothing. Please try to remember that they aren’t the ones who invaded our space – we in fact invaded theirs and made it impossible and dangerous for them to live in their homes. Because we invaded their space I think the least we can do is make the effort to secure our homes so that they cannot enter it. We are after all vastly superior to them and it shouldn’t be a challenge for our superior minds. And if we do fail to secure our homes and they manage to gain entrance it is really not the end of the world. You want a life of luxury, comfort and ease but you are not allowing them the same privilege. Because of what we as humans have done it is daily challenge for them to feed themselves and be safe. They are maimed, tortured, shot, electrocuted and killed on the road. Stop being selfish and petty.
How would you like to have your home destroyed, your food taken away daily by new constructions and deforestation of the land you call home… then when forced into the so called human areas to scrounge for whatever food you can find to then be shot at with bullets, pellets, paintballs just because you are starving… I would like you to take the time and put yourself in there bodies for the day… how scary this ever changing planet must be for these poor animals you call a pest… if anything the only pests on this planet is us humans, who take everything we have for granted… I would formally like to shoot you with a paintball gun so you know how sore it is or maybe a steel pellet so like the monkeys it enters your body and then your rip yourself to pieces just to get the steel pellet out.. don’t be such a bitch… if they coming into your home take better measures to put the food away and lock your homes up so they cant get in… they are highly intelligent creatures who are so similar to humans in so many and yet you are unable to out smart them without harming them…tsk tsk shows you how barbaric we have become – highly disappointed
We have also large troops passing on a weekly basis. Some weeks they come twice. Only when they smell fruits they come towards your property. I feed them when they come because they are looking for food so I give to them. the other day we counted approximately 38 of them all sitting in my pepper tree. when you do want them to go use a laser beam light. This light scares the living daylight out of them. please don’t shoot them with paintball or pellit guns. I you don’t want them near your windows or doors make a spot in the corner far away from the door and leave scraps there for them.
I love it when the monkeys move thru our yard in the mornings and afternoons to see how they play with the dogs come into the kitchen take bread and fruit in 2o years they never messed or broke anything in my kitchen because I don’t shout at them I just leave them to take what they want…people is a pest …the monkey wanted to play with your dog you said that the monkey is going to attack did he make a noice or show its teeth..
What a amazes me is that we have lived in various areas with has monkeys for the past 20 years. Sure they have stolen food out of my kitchen. Even found them sitting around the pup on our veranda eating hotdog rolls. Never have they messed in my house or destroyed anything. Never have they attacked any of my dogs. They actually used to share the bread with my labrador at the time. So wonder if it has all to do with attitude. Shame on people like Eleanor who are so ignorant. What gives you the right to want to destroy the monkey’s so future generations can no longer enjoy them just because you have a problem with them
I have a troop of monkeys coming through my garden every day and at my work there are also 2 troops. They have never hurt my dogs (although my one dog has sadly killed 2 monkeys over the years) They have never been aggressive to me either. I think she is being over dramatic and her fear is based on the lack of knowledge and the many nonfactual rumours that most of us grow up believing about monkeys. A 2 minute read on monkey behaviour on the Monkey Helpline’s website will tell her all she needs to know to understand them and hopefully through this she will appreciate how lucky we are to have the wildlife we do and how badly treated they are.
I suggested a while back that people should plant fruit trees in the valley on the Bluff for the animals. In the meanwhile, feeding stations in the valley would keep them there and they won’t need to go to houses for food. They are only going to houses as a desperate measure or because people feed them.
Hay why can’t the ppl just give them food in 1 side of the yard then they will not do what they doing just remember 1 thing we took there food away Not them ours so just feed them on 1 side of the yard and then thay stay happpy and they will leave you’re animals and you alone
Phone me if u want help 0845030886
I have lived in KZN for two years and have never before lived with monkeys. In 2 years, I have seen at least 8 massive trees being chopped down (on municipal and private land). At the rate vegetation is disappearing, it is unsurprising that monkeys will go to where vegetation exists. It is clear that there are not ‘more’ monkeys, but rather groups are being forced to co-exist due to lack of food. People, palms and paving are not indigenous! I have seen shot monkeys, monkeys killed by cars, monkeys that have been attacked, etc. We have buried monkeys and I can state that in 2 years, 2 adults, 4 juveniles and 4 babies have died. This is what I have witnessed. The odds against monkeys are massive. I am not a monkey hugger. I respect nature and life! I allow the monkeys to play in my garden and yes, I have pets. We co-exist and I can tell you that having monkeys in your yard is a far bigger deterrent than any huge dog!
We are animal lovers and cannot handle any cruelty to animals but one has to draw the line. I don’t have a problem with them moving thru on their travels. I do have a problem with the people who feed them as I feel this causes a lot of the problems. Had people not started feeding them they would have moved on as development happened. What about the costly damages they cause? They have terrorised my birds, broken my sat dish twice, broken my gutters and facia boards countless times. My small dog was attacked right in front of us unprovoked and the monkeys left unhurt and my dog was left with his face ripped apart. I have spoken to monkey helpline and while they have a good cause I was left feeling that the monkeys have more rights than us. Why are we not allowed to protect our own homes and animals? I think Jennifer’s idea is well worth a try as we have many areas where this could be achieved. If we’re not careful they will be voting soon!
Let’s ask this question. Would we be happy with lions, or elephants wandering in our home in droves and causing destruction in their wake? Monkeys are wild animals and should be treated as such. Lions, elephants, rhino’s, all of their homes have been destroyed by urbanisation, and yet we’ve packed them up and moved them to a more suitable location… game reserves. Surely this is a reasonable solution for monkeys too?
As much as we’d like to say “shame, we’ve taken their homes away”, the simple fact of the matter is that they are a destructive force in an urban environment and something needs to be done about them. I’ve seen monkeys attack school children, kill caged birds and tear apart rubbish packets leaving the rotten contents of them strewn across roads for meters.
People who want to put a nappy on baby monkeys and say ah shame, look how cute he looks, isn’t doing the monkey or their neighbours any favours. By not keeping the population of monkeys to a minimum, either by relocation or by (what I think is an excellent idea), sterilising them we’re actually exasperating the problem.
It’s all good and well for the pro-monkey people to jump up and down and call the rest of us who would rather not have them around “uneducated”, but the simple fact of the matter is that the monkey population isn’t becoming uncontrollable, it is completely out of control. Again, they are wild animals and as such belong in the wild. They need to be relocated, just like we relocate lions and rhinos and any other wild animals that would cause destruction in an urban environment.