TWO men were released with a warning on Wednesday by security officers in the Verulam area for poaching monkeys. The men, according to Reaction Unit South Africa’s Facebook page were using dogs to track the monkeys. What’s more the men were found in possession of an air rifle.

“Members of Reaction Unit South Africa were dispatched to Fir Close in Trenance Park, Verulam after a resident in the area reported two suspicious individuals walking past her home. Upon arrival the caller pointed officers in the direction of a dense bush that both men had entered.

“Reaction officers tracked the individuals and found them in possession of the rifle and a pack of dogs. An inspection of the weapon confirmed that is was an air rifle. When questioned the men stated that they were hunting monkeys which they were going to later consume and the skin was to be used for muti,” they said.

Founder of the Monkey Helpline, Steve Smit, said many people who own and use pellet guns (air gun) are ignorant of the fact that they are committing a crime in terms of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 0f 2000, in which it is clearly set out that the use of a pellet gun is as strictly controlled as is the use of a firearm.

“When people buy pellet guns the sellers do not notify them that there are strict limitations on the use of pellet guns in residential areas, in fact anywhere that holds the risk of injury to another person or damage to property. It is very irresponsible to both sell and acquire a pellet gun without familiarising oneself with the relevant legislation controlling the use of such a weapon,”said Smit. “It is also illegal to use the dogs for poaching purposes,” the concerned animal rights activist added.

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