Vervet monkey rescued by good Samaritan
Anyone who witnesses cruelty to wildlife can contact CROW on 031 4690583 or 083 2125281 (after hours)
A BABY vervet monkey has been given a new lease on life and rescued from what could have been a slow, painful demise at the hands of children who apparently knew no better.
Mtunzini resident and builder Kevin Rundle had been working on the outskirts of Empangeni and was returning home recently.
‘I saw a group of children dragging a baby monkey by its tail and could not drive past without doing anything,’ said Kevin.
Apart from the discomfort of being dragged by her tail,
‘I stopped my car and insisted they let go of the monkey. They did, but unfortunately she ran into the bush.’
It was the following morning when Kevin returned to the area that he found the monkey, about 1km from where she had run into the bush.
‘I walked slowly up to her and held out my hand and she immediately came to me,’ said Kevin.
An hour later, the monkey, which has since been named Irene, was in the safe care of Irene Liversage, the Empangeni depot of CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife).
Liversage rushed baby Irene to the Empangeni Veterinary Hospital where she was treated until she reached CROW in Durban.
‘The monkey was so badly injured that she went up to Kevin for him to help her,’ said Liversage.
The three-and-a-half-month-old monkey had severe burn wounds from the hot tar on both her back feet, two puncture holes that were badly infected and she was severely dehydrated.
‘Baby Irene’s wounds were treated with burn ointment and by changing the dressings three times a day,’ said CROW.
After spending 10 days in the intensive care unit, baby Irene is now moving around and doing much better. She will be kept in a separate enclosure until she is strong enough to join the rest of the nursery group of eight babies.
‘I was not aware of CROW, and had to make many telephone calls before I got the help the monkey needed,’ said Kevin.
‘Everybody needs to be made aware that there are people out there taking care of injured wildlife and if more people knew about the organisation, perhaps more people would help.’
April is the month of National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and this story is an opportunity to emphasise the cruelty that animals experience at the hands of humans.
CROW is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre in Durban registered to work with all types of indigenous wildlife found in KZN.
Every year CROW rescues, rehabilitates and releases more 3 000 orphaned, injured and displaced wild animals.
CROW is 100% reliant on donations from the public. More information can be found at info@crowkzn.co.za.
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