Euthansised monkeys: CROW caught in the crossfire
According to a statement released by EKZN, Crow had been involved in the case as a consulting party and tasked to assist in the removal of monkeys from Umsizi.
PUBLIC upset remains at a high over the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s (Crow) involvement in the devastating case of 52 monkeys that were euthanised by Ezemvelo KZN (EKZN) Wildlife recently.
The monkeys in question had allegedly been kept in appalling conditions at Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue Centre and needed to be vacated from the premises. According to a statement released by EKZN, Crow had been involved in the case as a consulting party and tasked to assist in the removal of monkeys from Umsizi, as EKZN did not have the expertise to do so.
EKZN went further to place on record that, “Crow agreed to assist with the capture to limit the stress and injuries of the monkeys during the seizure, as EKZN Wildlife was going to proceed with the capture regardless. Crow distances itself from any decision made by EKZN Wildlife to euthanise any of the confiscated monkeys.”
However, the public was not convinced after a screenshot of an email from Crow operations director, Clint Halkett-Siddall, mistakenly sent to Tracy Rowles, who runs Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue (intended for an EKZN recipient), did the rounds on social media.
In the email, Clint asks whether SPCA would be pressing charges based on the unacceptable condition of the monkey enclosures and that a statement from SPCA would assist in putting an end to Tracy’s support on social media. Many members of the public expressed their frustrations and disappointment towards the Yellowwood Park-based wildlife rehabilitation centre. When asked whether he motivated the SPCA to charge Tracy, Clint said, “No not at all, I was simply asking if they knew if they would be pressing charges.”
“We were shocked and truly saddened when we found out what transpired after the monkeys were transported to Umfolozi, but as per our statement, we do not support the call to euthanise all the monkeys that were confiscated. We stand by the decision to assist with the capture of the monkeys as, if this was done by an inexperienced team, there would have been serious injuries to both the monkeys and the capture teams. After seeing the condition of the enclosures these animals were living in, we would not support these animals staying where they were. The enclosure in all the pictures on other social media pages is of the new enclosure which was built well and maintained. The enclosures our team had to work in were around the back of the house and these were the ones we posted pictures of. I would also like to add that the only discussions that were had between us and EKZN were relating to the capture of the vervet monkeys and we did not have jurisdiction or authority outside of that role.
“Unfortunately there has been a lot of misinformation and false accusations circulating on social media. Crow is and will always have the best interest of our wildlife at heart. Although we do not at all condone the euthanasia of all the monkeys we do respect the law that is put in place to protect the animals we work so hard to save.
“We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions,” said Clint.
READ: Shock and devastation as over 50 monkeys euthanised
SPCA Amanzimtoti said that although their legal team has advised against making media statements, they can confirm that the matter is under investigation.
EKZN Wildlife confirmed confiscating close to 100 vervet monkeys. The organisation’s Communications Manager Musa Mntambo confirmed that 52 monkeys were taken on Monday, 29 March, to the iMfolozi Game Reserve where they were put down, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals. He said they consulted with experts who considered factors like each animal’s age, physical structure, sex, and medical condition, before culling and burying them.
Mntambo said he had been advised to refrain from making further comments regarding the issue as it would be sub-judice.
Tracy Rowles, who runs Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue, said her organisation was granted an interdict on 1 April against EKZN Wildlife from removing the remaining monkeys and babies from its care. She confirmed that aside from having old cages that there was nothing wrong with the cages at Umsizi.
“The SPCA and EKZN has inspected those very same cages in the past including in November 2020 when they arrived on-site at the sanctuary. Crow put up zoomed in and specifically angled photographs in order to distort the truth and make the sanctuary look as bad as possible to excuse the murder of our monkeys and justify its actions.
“We emphatically place on record that EKZN Wildlife has refused to communicate with and respond to serious questions raised by Umsizi Vervet Rescue regarding the manner in which monkeys were euthanised,” she said.
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