Stop this monkey business
A vervet monkey is presumably running lose in Benoni, after attempts to catch the animal, on Tuesday afternoon, proved futile.
The animal was last seen on a property in Farrarmere Gardens, on Tuesday, after its presence was reported to the Born To Be Free animal rescue centre on the same day.
It was first spotted in a tree, on a property, on Monday afternoon.
The monkey escaped from the tree it was sheltering in before the organisation could remove it.
The monkey was apparently spooked by people throwing fruit at it while it was sitting in the tree.
‘‘We want him to go to a place where he belongs,’’ said Judith Havenga, who reported the animal’s presence.
‘‘People will not leave him alone.’’
Antoinette Jurgens, from Born To Be Free, said she believes it’s a male monkey that has separated itself from its troop.
She said it is common for monkeys to infiltrate residential areas.
Jurgens said people must not allow children to walk around with food or try to corner the animal, as this might provoke it and lead to it becoming aggressive.
She urged anyone who sees the monkey to report it to her immediately, on 083 453 9804.
