While Richards Bay’s vervet monkey population continues to provoke anger from residents due to house invasions, harassment of children and attacks on pets, there are those who have pity for these creatures.
Often the targets of pellet guns, fireworks and ‘ketties’, and living in an increasingly diminishing habitat, these grey-haired tree-dwellers are also regularly end up as road kill.
Monday saw yet another incident of a car driving into monkeys attempting to cross the highway and this time a kindly witness rushed the mother and offspring to the vet.
The mother did not survive the operation, while the young vervet – which clung unto the hand of the theatre assistant throughout – has a chance of defying death after being patched up.
‘And even then we cannot say it will be ok,’ said vet Jurgen Otto.
‘We cannot simply release it into the wild as a strange troop will not accept it.
‘I know they can be a bit of a pain at times but cruelty is never justified and leaving the in pain is not an option either.
‘They also have feelings and life is not always easy for them either.’
The monkey may have to be sent to a rehabilitation centre in Durban.
Meanwhile, there is no financial compensation from the State for veterinarians who treat such wild animal cases.
