DEAR Editor,-
As a resident of Hibberdene, I want to stress that vervet monkeys are wild animals and not cute pets.
On Monday this week I must have surprised the scout of the troop when I stepped out the front door to go to my car parked in the carport a few feet away.
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I am so used to the monkeys as they visit our complex often and don’t worry about them – but I am wary of them. So it was a heart-stopping moment when the scout charged at me in an aggressive manner and I got such a fright.
In defence, I shouted ‘hey’ loudly and stamped my foot, but instead of this solving the problem, the alpha male (who also seemed to appear from nowhere) came at me from another direction, baring his teeth.
I got such a fright and jumped back behind the screen door after shouting loudly again, and this time even my neighbour heard me. The alpha male bit at the screen door as I pulled it closed and got way too close for my liking.
I really wanted to go to my car and check to see if the alpha and his troop had moved off through a closed front-facing window, but he immediately came charging at me and even jumped onto the window sill to try to get to me.
I took a photo as he sat in an upright position trying to intimidate me and not allowing me to exit the house. It was all rather disconcerting and scary to say the least.
I’m not sure what made them so defensive – unless I surprised them, or some holidaymaker or ‘do-gooder’ was feeding them. Or perhaps because the mothers in the troop had babies with them, but the photo clearly shows that he wasn’t happy with me at all and he meant business.
I am an animal lover, so my letter just serves as a precautionary measure to warn others not to be fooled into thinking that monkeys are cute, lovable animals.
GOING BANANAS
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