Benoni SPCA staff had the grim task of removing the carcass of a vervet monkey from the N12 west, between the Tom Jones and Atlas road offramps, this morning (February 28).

The adult male primate had been roaming various areas of Benoni since February 26.

According to Benoni SPCA inspector Thomas Mohlake, they were alerted to the scene on the highway after receiving reports from concerned motorists just after 08:30.

“Before being called to the N12, we were informed that the monkey had been sighted in Virgo Road, Farrarmere. When we arrived, it was nowhere to be found. We drove around the area searching for it but then received the sad news that it was seen deceased on the highway.”

He said they found the monkey in the middle of the road in a bad state.

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“We are deeply touched by this tragic incident. We aimed to rescue him, like all the other monkeys we’ve saved in the past.

“This time, our efforts to safely capture and relocate him were unsuccessful. It was heartbreaking to see him lying in that state on the highway.”

On February 26 at around 12:55, a Benoni City Times journalist spotted the monkey crossing Milburn Street from Sarel Cilliers Street in Rynfield and settling on a nearby tree to nibble on some leaves.

We then spoke to Roland Leschinsky, an animal conservationist at the Owl Rescue Centre, who said the little primate means no harm and that they are generally more afraid of humans than humans are of them.

He said the animal was moving from one place to the next looking for a troop, adding that it was most likely headed towards Bapsfontein.

The SPCA said they were informed about the monkey and when they went to Robertson Street in Rynfield on February 26, where it was last spotted, the monkey was nowhere to be found.

Mohlake told the City Times the next day that they were tracking the animal as they received sightings and would keep an eye on it when they spot it while awaiting the assistance of members of Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW) to capture it.

Benoni Animal Rescue Centre (BARC) also reported on its Facebook page on February 27 that the monkey was seen travelling through Benoni High from O’Reilly Merry towards Dalrymple Street.

The organisation advised residents to be on the lookout and to contact Wildlife In Crisis if spotted or contact them on 073 112 1131 or 082 708 1228.

Monkey Helpline offers these helpful tips about vervet monkeys:
• Don’t ever try to catch a vervet or its baby. Monkeys see such behaviour as a direct threat.
• Don’t even try to touch a vervet or pull its tail. Monkeys see such behaviour as a direct threat.
• A vervet is not easily cornered, but if this does happen accidentally, move calmly out of its way and allow it to “escape”.
• Just because there is a monkey in your house when you, or a child, walk in unexpectedly, does not mean that it is “cornered”.
• Don’t tease, mimic or provoke a vervet. Your behaviour could be considered a challenge. Monkeys threaten one another using aggressive body language and staring.
• If you feel threatened by a vervet, do not turn your back on it or try to run away – and do not scream. Back away slowly while continuing to face it and then move to the side and around the monkey towards your original destination.
• Don’t allow children with food into an area where vervets are present. Monkeys are not shy to grab food from the hands of small children. Children should not be left unattended by an adult in situations where vervet monkeys are present.

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