RICHARDS BAY residents have had enough of monkey business in their suburbs.
They are complaining about common vervet monkeys frolicking about and making mischief.
According to Veldenvlei resident Maggie McHattie, the monkeys have invaded her garden and she can no longer enjoy the fruits of her own labour.
‘We have lived in Veldenvlei for the past 25 years, during which time we have been able to enjoy fruit and vegetables grown in our own garden. Now the monkeys appear to have staked a land claim of sorts so our days of growing our own fresh food are very likely numbered,’ McHattie said.
It is believed the monkey invasion is a result of rapid urbanisation encroaching on their natural habitat.
But McHattie questions this.
‘Monkeys are clever enough to know they have no natural predators in towns. Here they are free to enter our homes and create havoc, steal our food and intimidate our children. All of this whilst enjoying the protection of the law,’ said Maggie.
Meerensee resident Mia Moorcroft told the Zululand Observer that monkeys are a huge problem in her yard as well.
‘They have completely destroyed our lapa and it’s going to cost us a fortune to repair or replace it.’
Zululand’s monkeys also enjoy braaing with the locals.
Pelican Island visitor Niren Naidoo said the monkeys are always hanging around looking for stuff to steal.
‘It is not only annoying, but scary. In one incident my child was eating a wors roll and the monkey almost attacked him for the food. Luckily he threw the roll on the floor and ran to his mother. The monkey grabbed the roll and escaped into the bush nearby,’ said Niren.
Whilst not much can be done to solve the problem, it seems, McHattie suggested monkeys could be trapped in family groups and relocated them to game reserves.
Residents are warned not to feed the monkeys.
i have monkey in my yard every morning and afternoon they eat the berries rom one of our trees and now and then dig in the bin, but who am I to say that they should be killed! i think there are to many people caring to complain about things simply because they have nothing better to do! there are numerous ways of chasing them of from your garden etc like we have done. just because we are over populated and are taking over their space as well doesnt mean we need to be killed …. God created the world for all of us… and no one is above an animal…
Protection of what law???
The Animals Protection Act 71/1962 Roy.
Monkeys are not nearly the problem people make them out to be and if they made just a small effort to get to understand, ‘Who’ monkeys are, ‘why’ they are found in Urban areas, ‘what’ their behaviour means, ‘what’ to do and not to do in the prescence of monkeys and how to humanely keep monkeys away from those areas of your house or garden where they are not wanted, there would be far less FEAR, INTOLLERANCE and ANTAGONISM from people. For more information see https://www.monkeyhelpline.co.za or cantact Steve on 0826594711.