Mt Edgecomb monkey killer remains at large
Despite a R10 000 reward nobody has stepped forward with information regarding the brutal killing of a vervet monkey at the Mt Edgecomb Estate, earlier this month.
TWO weeks – that is how long a female vervet monkey had to suffer, after a lead pellet ripped through her lungs and lodged itself in her chest at the Mt Edgecomb Estate earlier this month.
The severely emaciated vervet had to be euthanized, after she was rescued by the Monkey Helpline, a local NPO. The pellet had caused an infection in her lungs and she had lost 78 per cent of her lung capacity.
The management association of Estate 2, who were outraged by the brutal incident, offered a R10 000 reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the prosecution of the shooter.
In addition to the reward the estate has also declared that anyone found guilty of shooting a monkey on the estate would face a R100 000 fine. Several weeks have passed and no one has stepped forward with any information.
According to Steve Smit, the founder of the Monkey Helpline, the silence revolving around monkey killings and shootings seem to be a reoccurring trend.
“Over the last two years we have encountered several brutal monkey killings where residents offered rewards in exchange for information, which could lead to the killer’s prosecution, but never has anyone come forward,” he said.
“The problem is people do not want to be identified, and they don’t want to face the killer. They fear that they will be targeted by the killer,” he added.
However, Smit, who remains optimistic, also believes that the reward and fine will prevent people from shooting the rascally creatures.
Terry Keller, the CEO of the Estate 2 management association, said they were appalled by the incident and condemned the killing of any creature on the estate.
Keller said that the incident was particularly frustrating as they had not had a shooting in years. “We have isolated reports of people accidentally driving over monkeys, We take pride in the wildlife and we will not tolerate the malicious killing of animals on the estate.”
“This is a proactive approach, and to warn people that the consequences will be severe should they maliciously harm animals on the estate,” he said.
