Grubs up at monkey ‘restaurants’
‘Blou Aap Resturante’ focuses on educating local pupils on the monkeys’ favourite tree species and how to grow them.
A TEAM of passionate conservationists have set out to feed Zululand’s growing population of monkeys while ridding Richards Bay’s suburbia of the mischief-makers’ thieving skills.
The initiative called ‘Blou Aap Resturante’ (‘Vervet Monkey Restaurants’) is currently focused on educating local pupils on the monkeys’ favourite tree species and how to grow them.
Once the trees grow to an acceptable size under the nurturing hands of the pupils, they will be transferred and re-planted on plots out of town to attract the vervets from uMhlathuze’s residential zones.
Speaking at the Veldenvlei Primary School on Friday, KwaZulu-Natal Hunting and Conservation Association Zululand Branch Vice-Chairman, Henry Prins, said the programme will promote a happier cohabitation between ‘humans and this region’s primates’.
‘Certain plant species are so delicious for our monkeys that it is like us going out to a restaurant for dinner,’ said Prins.
‘Their favourites are Marula, Mopani, Red Currant, Wild Plum, Wild Strelitzia and the Shiny-leaf Buckthorn tree.
‘Unfortunately, the monkeys’ natural food sources have shrunk significantly and this has largely contributed to them becoming pests for residents.
‘We believe if we plant their choice foods away from Richards Bay’s suburbs, they will leave the neighbourhoods and, once again, have enough food to sustain their natural diet.’
Prins showed pupils how to trim a small branch, dip it in growth hormones and plant it in either bark or a potato until its roots outgrow the holders.
While the enthusiastic youngsters start the process of raising trees, members of the KZN Hunting and Conservation Association will identify safe areas for the vervets to dine in peace and stay out of trouble.
During Arbor Week in September, all the pupils will be invited to bring the trees they have been caring for to re-plant them in these chosen areas.
‘It’s a long term project so we will visit schools on a yearly basis and encourage it to become one of their Land Service projects,’ said Prins.
