AN 18-month old vervet monkey shot by an air rifle is a ‘sickening act of blatant animal cruelty’ says Steve Smit from Monkey Helpline. The baby monkey, who has been named Ken, was rescued earlier today and has been temporarily blinded by the gun shot wound.

X-rays later revealed a lead bullet from a suspected air rifle had lodged in his neck. Local residents contacted the non profit organisation after baby Ken remained in their garden for a few days.

“Animals in need seem to know instinctively so it was no coincidence that Ken, chose to stay in the garden of Phumelele Ngwenya in Kenville. Phume and her daughter, Pamela, looked after him by keeping their gates closed to guard against wandering dogs and fed him for a few days, thinking that his troop would come for him sooner or later.

“When we rescued Ken, he was slightly malnourished and we realised with the blindness he wasn’t able to fend for himself, forage for food, or locate his troop, who had moved on without him. We think he used sound to keep track of them,”

He added the NPO was constantly campaigning against the use of pellet/air guns.
“People don’t realise they are committing a crime by discharging a firearm in a residential area. Pellet guns are not toys,” the exasperated monkey activist said.

Smit said he hopes the blindness is temporary but added only time would tell.

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