DEAR Editor,-
Many pensioners on static pensions reside along the South Coast and to supplement their meagre pensions, they devote exhausting hours in the sun tending gardens, in an endeavour to harvest fruit and vegetables. Despite their arduous work, there are no rewards, owing to the destruction of plant life by the increasing numbers of vervet monkeys.
Pensioners are willing to share their harvest with the monkeys, but they destroy the flowers, which prevents fruiting. Green fruits and vegetables are plucked and discarded and branches are broken.
Numerous residents are keen bird watchers and, on a wetland area, 12 recently-hatched ducklings were wantonly and brutally killed by the monkeys who ripped off their heads – Not for the purpose of providing food!
Michael Muller, manager of the LSC SPCA, recently stated that the actual number of vervet monkeys has not increased dramatically. Where has he been living during the last 10 years? Or is he not numerate?
Apparently Jean Harris from the North Coast relocated monkeys from that area to the South Coast because they were too numerous and pests. Who gave her permission to relocate these animals?
Mr Muller, do you regard the survival of the human population as less important than that of animal life? Community members who are employed and earn a salary can buy their fruit and vegetables, but the majority of the elderly are struggling.
Why are the monkeys permitted to wreak havoc in our gardens? Farmers classify both monkeys and bush pigs as vermin, so my message to all ‘monkey-huggers’ is – spend a day in the sun tending a garden and try to experience what an elderly person suffers after being in the garden for an average of eight hours a day – to no avail.
It is also worth noting that macadamia nut and sugar cane farmers who work the land cannot afford the destruction caused by animals, who even attack labourers. Try to practise empathy, instead of leading a selfish life.
EL LOBO
Uvongo
