Monkey shooting angers YWP resident
A monkey was shot out of a tree and then shoved in a plastic bag while still alive and taken away by a man, the alleged shooter.
YELLOWWOOD Park animal lovers have been left angered and saddened after a monkey was denied the right to live, according to resident, Pat Parks who witnessed the killing which was apparently committed by a neighbor.
Park recalls the events of Wednesday, 15 June when a monkey was shot out of a tree and then shoved in a plastic bag while still alive and taken away by a man, the alleged shooter. “It was around lunchtime when we heard shots ring out. My tenant went to investigate and saw this man had shot a monkey who was in a tree. I confronted him but he denied shooting and killing monkeys or even owning a pellet gun,” said Parks.
The shot monkey fell to the ground but when Parks got there, it was gone. “I asked him where was the injured animal, he said he did not see any injured monkey but in his hand he had a plastic bag with a monkey tail sticking out of it. I was livid. It was still alive and I begged him to hand the bag over so I could take the poor monkey to CROW but he refused. I just wanted to help the animal and as I leaned forward to grab the bag, he pulled away and headed back inside his house. I went after him, threatening him with the police. I said if he gave me the monkey I would not press charges, but a second man came out and told me I had no right to be there and I must leave. I asked if they would take it to Crow but they refused to answer,” she said.
It is very sad that the lack of education and the general ‘couldn’t care less attitude’ have flourished of late
The distraught woman contacted Montclair SAPS, CROW and Park Patrol who all came out to the scene. Police found a rifle carry case on the porch which they confiscated.
Communications officer for CROW, Paul Hoyt said such cases saddens, especially in Yellowwood Park which is a conservancy. This is the third monkey shot dead this month. “What we need to learn as a community is how fortunate we are in South Africa to have wildlife. We have to remember the animals were here first, we took their land and now we need to learn how to co-exist with them. Being the smarter species, I urge residents to be ethical when dealing with evasive monkeys. Close your windows for example. It shows such disregard for nature to shoot at wildlife when we are trying our best to conserve them,” he said.
Being the smarter species, I urge residents to be ethical when dealing with evasive monkeys
Park agrees that Yellowwood Park residents need to be educated about their area which is a conservancy. “It’s more reason to be protective of it. It is very sad that the lack of education and the general ‘couldn’t care less attitude’ have flourished of late, resulting in the abuse of our wildlife and the general decay in all our suburbs. The blood from the monkey spattered the patio and rocks in my yard, which indicates the initial shots were fired into my yard.
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