THE Vervet monkey that had its back, head, front paws and nipples painted white is on the mend and has been accepted back into the troop. Three weeks ago the female primate was caught, held down, painted white and was not able to breastfeed her infant

The Vervet Haven’s, Joan Chalmers, who first alerted Northglen News to the plight of the female primate said the ‘painted lady’ as she is now known, is doing very well and is now able to breastfeed her baby again.

“She is healthy and well. The troop have come to her aid and have helped groom her fur. The paint is slowly coming off and she has continued to travel with the troop,” she said.

“I would like to thank all the Northglen readers who have contacted me and who have
voiced their horror at what happened,” she said.

Chalmers said the fact that the Durban North troop came to her rescue further disproved the urban myth of the painted monkey.

Where did the painted monkey myth begin?

According to Steve Smit (Monkey Helpline) the myth of the painted monkey goes back as far as the Boer War.

“Baboons were regarded as pests because they stole crops grown in the area. Somebody came up with the idea of mixing water and cake flour and throwing it over the unlucky baboon.”

“There myth pointed to this white apparition running back to its troop, which in turn will run away from it due to its appearance and ultimately disappear over the horizon. Typically people would use cake flour and water. There is absolutely no truth to this myth.

“Nowadays people are using acrylic paint that is harder to remove and actually bonds to the monkey’s fur.  Instead of it chasing the troop away, the painted monkey’s unfamiliar appearance would have an adverse effect on the Vervet, it would be ostracised  and be constantly harassed by fellow troop members,” he said.