A humane approach to saving our primate friends

AS VERVET monkeys increasingly encroach onto urban areas, concerns about their safety and human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise.

Clint Halkett-Siddall, director at the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow), emphasised the importance of co-existing with these primates without resorting to harmful methods. 

Also read: Monkey troubles lead to earlier refuse collection times in Ward 64

Vervet monkeys, scientifically known as Chlorocebus pygerythrus, are fascinating creatures that exhibit many human-like characteristics, including anxiety, hypertension and even social behaviours related to alcohol use.

Safe and effective methods to keep monkeys away:

• Avoid feeding monkeys: Feeding monkeys disrupts their natural behaviours and fosters dependency, which can lead to increased aggression. Monkeys can’t differentiate between those who mean them well and those who might harm them, and feeding them reinforces submissive behaviour towards humans, escalating conflicts.
• Manage pet food: Ensure that pet food is kept indoors or removed once your pets have finished eating to avoid attracting monkeys.
• Use sensor-triggered water sprayers: Installing sensor-activated water sprayers in your garden can effectively deter monkeys from entering your space without causing them harm.
• Monkey-proof your home: Secure your house by installing welded mesh on windows, doors and gates to prevent monkeys from entering.
• Protect natural predators: One significant issue is the decline in natural predators, such as crowned eagles, due to human activities. Protecting these predators can help maintain the balance in the ecosystem.
• Secure rubbish bins: Use monkey-proof bins or invest in a monkey-proof clip for your green bins, available from Crow, to prevent monkeys from foraging through your waste.

The dangers of feeding and shooting monkeys:

Research conducted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) using data from Crow indicates that feeding monkeys is linked to severe consequences, including birth defects and difficulties during birth for mother monkeys.

The study also found a disturbing trend: For every household feeding monkeys, there is likely another within a five-house proximity where monkeys are being shot. Crow’s statistics reveal that 90% of monkeys x-rayed have pellets lodged in their bodies, causing painful lead poisoning and long-term suffering.

Steve Smith, founder of Monkey Helpline, reports that the organisation responds to over 1 800 rescue call-outs each year, averaging at least five rescues daily. Monkeys suffer injuries from various human-related incidents, including dog bites, vehicle collisions, electrocution, being trapped, snared, poisoned or shot with air guns. “Over 80% of the monkeys rescued have air-gun pellets lodged in their bodies. Many of these cases involve young monkeys who are orphaned or injured when their mothers are attacked or killed,” said Smith. 

Smith stresses that shooting monkeys with air guns or any other weapon inflicts terrible pain and a slow, agonising death. 

Facts on monkeys:

• They typically form female-based troops, with troop sizes ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, while males disperse to join other troops upon maturing. 
• Vervet monkeys breed during the winter and give birth in spring and summer, a time when conflicts often escalate due to male competition.
• These primates have a varied diet consisting of indigenous plants, insects and occasionally small amounts of meat. 
• Contrary to popular belief, bananas, often thought to be a harmless treat, can be detrimental when consumed in large quantities.

Contact Information:

If you encounter a monkey in distress or need assistance, you can contact Monkey Helpline at 082 659 4711. By taking these humane steps, you can contribute to the safety and preservation of vervet monkeys, ensuring a peaceful coexistence with our primate neighbours. 

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.