North Coast monkeys fall victim to lockdown frustration

An infant Vervet monkey has been euthanised after it was shot in the head with a pellet gun in Tongaat over the weekend – the 21st recorded shooting of monkeys during lockdown.

The baby monkey, rescued by Ballito Monkey Helpline’s Craig Johnstone, was rushed to Aloe Vet where an x-ray showed a lead airgun pellet lodged in its brain.

Monkey Helpline founder and activist Steve Smit condemned the shooting of monkeys, especially the babies, and called it “cowardly and callous”.

Smit said there had been a marked increase in monkey-related shootings on the North Coast during lockdown.

They had recorded 21 cases of monkeys being maimed or killed by air rifles, paint ball guns or pellet guns since the start of lockdown.

Smit said residents needed to understand that there was not an invasion of monkeys but that the public were simply seeing more troops because they were spending more time at home.

“With the current stay-at-home regulations, many people have been forced to stay at home for almost two months and this has resulted in a build up of emotions – particularly frustration and anger. The monkeys seem to have become victims to peoples misdirected emotions,” said Smit, who appealed for more tolerance towards the troops.

“Vervet monkeys are protected in terms of both national and provincial conservation legislation and also in terms of national animal protection legislation, and injuring or killing them is an offence. Pellet guns can not only maim or kills animals but also injure or kill people.”

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife iLembe district conservation officer, Kevin Green confirmed that shooting Vervet monkeys in built up areas is illegal and punishable by law.

He said that only in an agricultural area where Vervet monkeys pose a threat to the livelihoods of farmers may their numbers be controlled.

While a person does not need a licence to own an airgun in South Africa, the use of an airgun is regulated under the Firearms Control Act.

A pellet gun is regarded as an air rifle under the Firearms Control Act and its use within a built-up or residential area is punishable by law.

“It is an offence to discharge a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act in a manner likely to injure or endanger the safety or property of any person. It’s also an offence to discharge a firearm in a built-up area or any public space,” he said.

“The biggest problem we face is the fact that residents do not want to get involved. They will phone and tell us all about the horrific incident but want to remain anonymous. We cannot do anything in that case, we need them as a witness and for them to open a case with Saps.”

Contact Craig at the Ballito Helpline at 082 659 4711 or 082 411 5444.

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