100 vervet monkeys seized from rescue centre in Umkomaas

Various divisions of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) seized close to 100 Vervet Monkeys that were kept illegally in Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre on Monday, March 29.

The owner was charged with breaking two sections of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 15 of 1974.

Various divisions of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) seized close to 100 Vervet Monkeys that were kept illegally in Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre on Monday, March 29.

The owner was charged with breaking two sections of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 15 of 1974.

“The owner of Umsizi Vervet Rescue Centre had been given 21 days’ notice on February 4, 2021 to remove the monkeys. She was charged on March 29 and was given a R1500 fine,” said Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife communications manager Musa Mntambo.

All vervet monkeys removed by Ezemvelo Game Capture Unit will be disposed of in accordance with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals.

These guidelines include:

• returning confiscated animals to the wild;
• returning confiscated animals in captivity and
• euthanasia.

According to Mr Mntambo, the consulting team that assisted in confiscating all monkeys, first walked around the property viewing all occupied outdoor enclosures which each housed between five to approximately 30 Vervet Monkeys.

The monkeys were kept in five different enclosures. In one enclosure next to the kitchen, there were multiple monkeys housed in an extremely small (3.5m x 2m) and dark outdoor area with no sun availability and no perches (except for one beam which was attached to broken and rusting steel mesh).

The walls and floors were covered in old faecal matter and had to be swept out by the consulting team before catching could begin.

The SPCA began catching in the second enclosure, netting a few individuals, but the consulting team took over. The floor was covered in sludge and faecal matter with the team having to clean their boots multiple times in order to prevent slipping while catching.

The team noticed a male which was looking lethargic and caught him up immediately and boxed him as an individual. Whilst the rest of the catching was done, this male was monitored throughout.

Catching was particularly difficult in this enclosure as multiple areas of roofing were rusted and damaged as well as having broken mesh in and around the enclosure.

The fourth enclosure housed six individuals. This enclosure showed the most obvious health and safety concerns. Large nails were sticking out of the walls, rotting roofing and broken floorboards allowed for monkeys to hide in these unsanitary, unsafe areas.

One monkey caught its cheek on an exposed nail which created a small superficial cut along its cheek. These monkeys were boxed together.

Each troop other than the smaller groups were split into two large boxes with a capacity between six and 10 individuals. The boxes are 1.5m x 1.2m x 1m with a steel frame as to ensure the safety of the monkeys while being transported.

Dr. Roy Jones, Ezemvelo’s District Conservation Manager – Ethekwini expressed his appreciation to SPCA and all officials involved in the rescue of these monkeys and further warned that Ezemvelo will continue to confiscate animals that are kept without official permit.