VERVET MONKEYS

 [Cercopithecus aethiops] [Chlorocebus].

I’d like to talk to you about PRIMATES, I’m going to talk about US. We are the human Primates and the topic of my document will be the non human Primates VERVET MONKEYS [Cercopithecus aethiops] [Chlorocebus].

The word Primate means: five-digit finger and toes, finger nails and toe nails [animals do have claws and hooves] no facial hair, eyelashes and most important: when we are born our brain makes up 12% of the body mass [animals are born with 6% only].  Also we do share Binocular Vision and see colors, because of a long nasal passage we do experience a lost sense of smell.

The Vervet Monkey is one out of five indigenous primates we are having in South Africa. [lesser Bushbaby, thick tailed Bushbaby, Baboon, Samango Monkey and the Vervet Monkey]. Vervet Monkeys are Old World Monkeys, characteristic for walking on all fours, having a tail and being around an estimated 65 Million years. They do occur on the African Continent and in Asia. The other two categories would be the New World Monkeys form Central and South America and the Apes [also in Asia and  sub-Saharan Africa [Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans etc]

Chimpanzees share approx.  99,4% our DNA. Amazingly for being an Old World Monkey  it is said that the Vervet Monkey is sharing 92% of our DNA.

In Afrikaans called BLOOUAAP because of their bluish skin when born and possibly the males bluish scrotum. No to be translated into BLUE MONKEY which is a different specie: Samango/ Sykes Monkey. Vervet Monkeys are also known as Green Monkeys and Grivet Monkeys.

There used to be millions in the Wild, today an estimated 250.000 might still roam free but no counts have been made.  

The Vervet Monkey is most probably  one of  the most abused but also the toughest Monkey on Earth. With their very opportunistic social behavior mostly in conflict with Humans who are responsible for their Habitat Loss. With us Humans invading daily more and more into the Vervet’s natural habitat, building lodges, making agricultural grounds, roads and power lines etc our interests clashing with the natural habitat and needs of the Vervet Monkey. We are responsible for their human dependency. The Vervet’s logic mind simply reasons, where there has once been a wild fruit tree there is now a breakfast buffet table. Monkeys do need food to survive, so why not take from what’s on offer nearby?  The facts are that where there are people, there will be and has always been littering and waste, this always includes eatables. Also to trick and lure the  Monkeys closer with offering food to gain great photo opportunities since the age of photo cameras, it never has crossed our minds that we are in a matter of fact teaching  the Monkeys to come close to us and  to act demanding when hunger sets in and they start their search for food.

Alternatives to shooting them would be: alternative feeding places away from Lodges, all time presence of staff member, perhaps with non-deadly weapons [catapult]. Monkey proofed dustbin, no feeding: fines when tourists feed them for that close up photo: In-flight Magazines of airline should cover this topic in serious and depth, education about non human Primate’s behavior at schools, check-ins etc. to avoid injuries and inconvenience.

Being a very emotional Monkey and showing all emotions through biting which means if the Monkey is sad it bites you, if it greets you it will bite you, if the Monkey is happy it will also bite you out of pleasure and when angry it will simply bite you much  harder.

For years people have wrongly assumed that the Vervet Monkey must be a carrier of Rabies, but it can’t be, because we can’t be and we Primates, human and non human Primates do die from Rabies.

After all, it has been said that in the 1930’s a Cabinet Minister’s grandson was bitten by a Vervet Monkey and since then  the “Vermin”  law was executed. Being declared Vermin meant that everyone in South Africa [each province with their own laws concerning Nature Conservation] was allowed to shoot Vervet Monkeys wherever and how many they wanted. 

In Limpopo Province this law has been revoked in 2005, after realizing that their numbers took a deep plunge and Primate Conservationists raising their voices. At Cites in Kenya the Vervet Monkey has been on the endangered specie list as ‘ threatened’  since 1977 and since 1990 on a red data list. In some provinces of SA the Vermin law apparently still does exists. The public has barely taken notice that  shooting a Vervet in Limpopo Province now, will result in a 20000,--R fine and permits are needed to shoot Vervets or Baboons. Permits are also granted without much consideration in favor of the Vervet Monkey’s life. Alternatives, to have so called “ problem primates”  removed for re-location, needs funding and places to go to must be found, like  a Monkey friendly Game Reserves, collars for monitoring their movements and field staff to file reports. Time and Money we don’t seem to have right now to concentrate on conservation efforts.

In regards to other sicknesses: Vervet Monkeys are more likely to catch flu, tummy bugs, chicken pox and anything we humans might have. There has never been a positive AIDS result on tested Vervet Monkeys in the Wild or in captivity. I do follow Rita Miljo’s recommendation of giving the Vervet Monkeys a Tetanus Vaccination for the prevention of the bacteria carried through grasses and rusted wire so easily into their wounds resulting from the constant biting amongst the Primate specie.

With an internal body system similar to ours [tummy, intestine, kidney, liver etc] they are unfortunately being used for Drug Testing in laborites all over the world. Chimpanzees, Lemurs and Vervets. Vervet Monkey in specific for any blood pressure related medication.  Being emotional brings blood pressure problems and  Monkeys are also prone to Depression when mentally left with  too much idle time.  It is very important to keep a Monkey’s mind occupied, reason for them to spend 80% of their day time foraging, looking for food.

Enclosures must be as natural as possible, huge vast areas of natural ground with trees, shrubs and grasses, water ponds for diving and drinking water source, changing play things, attractive in form of ropes, tires, ladders, cargo nets etc to cater for their active and agile life style. It is very important to be able to offer them in the sanctuary/enclosure a whole functioning biodiversity with insects,  insects being able to lay their eggs into the ground, birds having access for the egg-eating Monkeys etc.

Having the internal system so similar is bad news for the Vervet Monkeys and created a black market to ship them off to laborites all over the world but has given us the golden Bushrule of survival, when lost in the Bush, follow them and its safe to eat whatever they do eat. Not the same can be said about Baboons who have  a much tougher tummy than us.

Research has been never conducted in SA on Vervet Monkeys, only two thesis ever been written for the university of Pretoria and  Durban about the conflict caused between humans and monkeys. Literature has been written with life expectancy of 7-10, 11-14 and up to 25 years of age. Gestation period might be 5 ½ or 7 ½ months?  Being declared Vermin didn’t allow the government to grant any research monies. Why spend money on something which ought to be destroyed?

Arthur Hunt of the Vervet Monkey Foundation in Tzaneen being the leading person of studies and followed by former partner and today estranged friend Bob Venter at Riverside Rehabilitation Centre in Letsitele providing most knowledge on Vervet Monkeys. All literature followed on research mostly done in East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

Natural predation, the Vervet Monkey population could have conquered as they did all these past years, despite of  60-80% of young Vervets born not surviving  their first year, it has been natural enemies such as cats: caracals and Leopards, Birds of Prey and Python which share the riverine habitat with the water loving and swimming Vervet Monkey.  

Vervet Monkeys have 36 different calls for different reasons such as mating calls, baby ID call, calls for danger in the sky, whereof all monkeys duck under cover, danger for snakes, whereas all monkeys climb up in the trees and the most panic stricken  call for a predatory cat going around, seemingly knowing that they are not safe either in trees or hiding under bushes. Also they do have over 60 gestures which is used to communicate: with their eyes, facial expression, displaying of teeth, certain body movements,hands and feet, tail’s posture etc.

Vervet Monkeys are called ‘Pinfaces’ when they are born because the hands, feet, ears and faces are pink and will start turning black as they become older than 4 months. However, around the eyes the color remains pinkish and it can be believed that this is on purpose: being diurnal primates sleeping in trees at night and black and white seeing predators on the hunt, the Leopard for example will easily mistake the white dots looking down on him for eyes. Perhaps making him realize that his prey has spotted him and he might abandon his hunt. A natural defense mechanism through light colors around the eyes.

Teaching in schools about the social behavior and structure of a Vervet Monkey troop could result in  a peaceful co-existence and no biting accidents and change people’s often very preconceived minds towards them. Amplify better conservation policies and national and international awareness programs will add to the survival of the Primate specie.

Misunderstood as “ cute pets”  and shooting the mothers in order to sell the tiny baby on a very old Pet Trade Market results every year in the loss of many females. The Females are the leader in a Vervet’s troop. Females born into the troop stay for the rest of their lives in the Troop, Males will leave the troop when sexually maturing in the age of 4-5 years, assumed to be  Natures perfect way to avoid inbreeding. Born into a rank the Males will be able to re-establish their ranking according to body size and the depth of darkness in the blue color of their testicles. Males are there for reproduction and  to protect the territory against invaders in showing off their genitals in order to make the statement” look at me, look what I’ve got, I’m a big Male and you do not want to take me on!”  It is the Males who show off sexual readiness with the hair under the tail turning reddish. No signs from the Females who have the similar menstrual cycle to us humans. Usually one baby born per year, twin birth can not be out ruled but has never been recorded so far. In Nature the Vervet mother won’t be able to take care of two babies and will leave one behind. Babies suckle from both mammary glands at once and he mother will have only one hand free to hold he baby while running away from danger. He only can move a very short distance on two legs, being an Old World Monkey and moving around on all fours.

However, taking a Vervet Monkey Baby in as a Pet is not only unlawful and will be punished with hefty fines as no person will ever obtain a permit to keep an indigenous primate in captivity or as pet, but being a surrogate mom to a Vervet baby means a 24/7 work, attendance and dedication. In nature the baby clings the first weeks to  its mother’s body, suckling from both teats at once approx. ever 13 minutes.  Feeding the little one with normal baby formula [S-26, Lactogen etc] and adding Protexin and a bit of honey, using human baby feeding bottles and teats, the Baby must be fed every 20 minutes. Drinking small amounts of 1-3ml at a time to insure the baby keeps hydrated. Dehydration is the cause of most fatalities. Vervet Monkey’s diet consist out of 80% vegetarian and 20% meat: insects, birds etc.

When Vervet Monkeys are sick it is often in the best interest of his health to consult not only with the VET but also with your GP or Pediatrician. Human medicine is wisely used on Monkeys.

People being not familiar with the social behavior of Vervet Monkeys often don’t feed as frequently as needed. Mentally it is of utmost importance  for the small one to be permanently with its adoptive mom. The  love and warmth, comfort and sense of security will prepare him for a confident and independent life. With people not having the time, the baby often gets locked up alone in a cage, neglected etc.

Even dedicated people getting through this time consuming stage of the upbringing might want to get rid of their “ Pet”  rather sooner than later. Later will definitely be when the Monkey is at  the age of  5-6 months, when the little canines are sharp, the jaw strong and their bite, to show their emotions and to reassure their ranking, getting harder and more painful. Naturally Babies get weaned by their mothers at the age of 8 – 12 months, although they are able to live on solids as from around 5 months of age,  without any problems. Problems starts because of  not knowing  what to do with their “ Pet turned natural Monkey”  and suddenly becoming the most unwanted object. People then drive out into the Bush to throw the Vervet Baby out, thinking that it will be rehabilitated…… not knowing that it doesn’t work. This results  into the Vervet sitting on the road to be picked up, get driven over by the next car or beaten and shot when approaching houses and humans.

Vervet Monkeys need the structure of a troop to live. Facilities are needed to take orphaned Babies in. To take care of them, hand raising them as close to what they would have experiences in nature. Giving them stability and the comfort of a close bond with a surrogate human mom. Once they are between 8 and 12 months old, letting them integrate  into a troop with the chance of  being released and  possible future survival in the Wild. Such a facility Bambelela wants to provide, forming a troop with the aim of  rehabilitation  and re-introduction into a monkey friendlier world.

Bambelela would like to bring into consideration the indigenous people who uses Primates as part of their diet. Teaching sustainable use, to not kill the females, but rather eat the males. In doing so making sure that their own food supply does not get cut short.

Learning from the mistakes made in West Africa where almost all Monkeys and Apes came close to extinction because they were killed by people for food.

Climate changes and global warming aren’t adding any advantages to Monkey’s  life expectancy. Droughts being responsible for fruitless seasons, nature sometimes can’t provide them with as many food sources as needed. Babies born to weak mothers will not be able to survive and no survival of the species guaranteed.  

According to Taxonomy, the Vervet Monkeys are divided into 4 and a recently added fifth different species with 21 sub-species.

It is very important to change people’s preconceived ideas about these commonly known ‘Problem Animals” and “ Pest”. To  change people’s attitude towards them. To make people aware of the Vervet Monkey’s important role in Nature.

Wherever and whenever a link gets taken out of the natural food web, there will be dire consequences.

The Vervet Monkey plays a very big role as an Ecologist in the environment..

People will only start conserving and respecting an animal specie when it has got a value. Nature Conservation started to peak for the Rhinos once a price tag of 140.000,--Rand has been put onto a living Rhino. What value could we possibly put onto a Vervet Monkey?

They are of extreme value to us, because without them the environment won’t be able to survive, and without a good balanced environment there will be no future for us Humans.

What makes the Vervet Monkey such a big role player as Ecologist?

-          Pollination: their hair is excellent for pollinating flowers as they jump from tree to tree.

-          Germination: certain seeds of flowers, shrubs and bushes will be germinate after going through the digestive system of a Vervet Monkey. The more plant live there is the more oxygen will be produced and natural nutrients gets recycled back into the Earth which in turn will stimulate progressive plant succession. This will be determined the kind of animals life in the area creating a healthy biodiversity.

-          Habituation and Distribution of seeds: Vervet’s eating on the move means evenly and widely spreading of seeds to maintain new growths.

-          Vervets are messy eater with a purpose, being in trees and responsible for many fruits and leaves falling onto the ground, they are making sure that  smaller antelopes, which can not reach high branches on trees, will get a good nutritional share of what Nature has got to offer.

-          Natural Insect Plaque Control: Vervet’s never getting tired of foraging for food and digging in the gound to find the eggs of insects for food. Pesticides needing to get more aggressive and poisonous in order to kill unwanted insects, adding to our global problem of air pollution and poisoning possibly other animals which feed on the dead insects. [it is said that it takes only 5 years for the human to die after the last insect has died on this planet]

-          Bird [Finch] Control: over population of finches can be avoided by having free roaming Vervets which share the riverine habitat where Finches make their nest. Vervet’s destroy the nest in order to get the eggs or young birds as a food resource. Too many Finches [seed eater] can cause desertion because of the loss of grassland habitat, the loss of animals,  which rely on the food source the grass habitat provides them with. As a result of the loss of insects and certain bird specie the whole ecological food web is broken down, which could result in a barren wasteland.

For Mankind, too many Finches could mean huge agricultural losses. For the Economy, this means unaffordable and higher prices for basic food such as Maize [Mielie Meel], which is still considered staple food for most people of South Africa.

Not only of ecological value but of economic interest too, it is essential to keep the indigenous Primates of South Africa protected, for the world to come, visit and to see. Next to the Big Five, tourists are mostly entertained by watching Primates in their natural habitat, children are highly fascinated when spotting Monkeys. Everyone knows about Apes and Monkeys through visits to zoos, circus and TV. It is fair to believe hat somehow we do find ourselves in watching Apes and Monkeys. We associate their behavior to that of ours and Monkeys do always make us laugh, no matter what. We do intend to let them show us the brighter side of live and it is amazing how easily Monkeys can captivate our attention.

Having National Parks offering natural wildlife surroundings and habitats in protected areas, means we aim to ensure the animals survival for future generation to come. Why, for so many years, was the Vervet Monkey and the Baboons not safe in such protected areas and shot with the explanation that they had become so called “ problem animals” ? Still in 2006 at a picnic spot in the Kruger National Park, the Park’s official employee had the order ‘from the top’  to shoot some Monkeys with a .22 caliber rifle. This was done in front of local and international tourists.

In Asia and other countries Monkeys are believed to be special, even sacred and many cultures worshipping and paying tribute and respect towards them. How come that other Nations were able to live side by side with them? How come Vervet Monkeys and Baboons in South Africa are made to be the ones impossible to live with?

People’s ignorance is killing planet Earth and only through education can we change people’s point of view. Everyone must be involved in Primate conservation, working together is the only chance of a successful co-existence with Monkeys and Baboons.

We have to establish a connection and a interconnection between human primates and non-human primates in order to survive in our habitat with clashing interests.

Gauteng being declared South Africa’s first Province where the Vervet Monkey is officially extinct, after the capture and re-location of the last remaining 60 Vervets around Apies River in Pretoria. People started throwing boiling water onto the Monkeys and Bob Venter came to their rescue. These Vervets were released at a Monkey friendly Game Reserve ‘Dinokeng’.

Baboons were getting shot and killed at Cape Point. New studies did reveal that the Fynbos, the smallest floral kingdom and one of our seven biomes is dying because of  the absence of baboons, who are needed to keep the Fynbos alive through germination and distribution of seeds. From previously being shot,  now conservation policies include the re-introduction and rehabilitation of Baboons to the Cape, Baboon watch initiatives instead of ‘shooting problem Baboons’, etc.

I can not deny the threat, injuries, nuisance and destruction Vervet Monkey can cause.

I honestly believe the following could help:

- to give the right education about their social behavior

- introducing a public awareness program on how to behave in their presence

- stricter conservation laws and fines

- introducing alternatives to killing them

- a willingness to admit the faults Humans made to begin with

- understanding the cause of today’s problems and respecting that Vervet    Monkey has been here long before us

- accepting their right to live and utilize the little we left them of nature

- to protect  and respect them without trying to enter their comfort zone and          denying them any habitat.

More than anything the willingness and appreciation of having Vervet Monkeys around, even if the need of some inconvenience to our life style arises and welcoming the thought that conservation will come at a price.

There can not be a future without paying the price for our and our forefathers wrong-doings. We and the future generation have to act now, before it is too late and more and more Vervet Monkeys pay with their lives for our convenient live-style. But what good would a life without fauna and flora really be?

Examples to what could be done:

-Monkey safe dustbins

-secured storage places

- chasing them away instead of feeding them at our doorstep

- alternative feeding places

- food bins for left overs at Picnic spots for pick-up and transfer to alternative feeding places

-  simply making it unpleasant to come to close into our comfort zone, setting boundaries and living accordingly. [chasing them off with shouting and non-deadly weapons]

It can be possible in future for  human primates  and non-human primates to co-exists in a limited and fragile environment.

Bambelela wishes to be part of that, it all starts somewhere and we like to be considered as a safe haven for orphaned, abused and injured Vervet Monkeys;

-  as an orphanage, hand raising young ones which has been confiscated or found left behind in he Veld.

- introducing and formatting a troop for possible rehabilitation

-  as a release site

-  as project site for studies and gathering much needed information about the specie

-  as a refuge to the ones which can not be considered for rehabilitation and release,

   due to injuries sustained in nature of through abuse by humans.

-          for educational purposes: letting these refugees be an educational tool to invite the public and start an awareness program to encourage conservation efforts, change people’s preconceived fears, minds and opinions, to stop the abuse and to combat the Pet trade.

As Linda Tucker mentioned in her book about the white lions “Mystery of the white lions – children of the sun god” :  ‘ Caught in the treadmill of our consumer society, we might feel impotent against the ongoing destruction of our Earth. This is not so. I do not believe that we are helpless. We become intensely powerful and effective, once we start believing in the light within us and allow this inner light to guide us towards the right action. If we feel defeated in the face of the Earth’s mass degradation, it is a indication on how we have lost our light, our connection, with the Earth.

There are many ways to re-connect and to re-invest in our Earth and its riches, there are many ways in giving something back for what we have received, the important thing is to making the connections and interconnections”.

The truth is that we can make a difference and all it needs is for the first step to be made. Bambelela would like to work together with Nature Conservation and concentrate on the survival of the Vervet Monkey.  We see it as our calling to protect their lives and interest, creating with public education and awareness,  a more Monkey-friendlier society, a more balanced environment and better understanding of the specie.

This page was last updated on:11 January 2008    © Bambelela 2007 - 2008