Shock and devastation as over 50 monkeys euthanised

ANIMAL lovers were shocked to learn the devastating news that more than 50 vervet monkeys were euthanised by a well-known wildlife conservation organisation, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, recently.

The monkeys in question had allegedly been kept in appalling conditions at Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue Centre and needed to be vacated from the premises. On Monday, 29 March, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife requested that the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) assist them as a consulting team with the capture of the monkeys at Umkomaas Vervet Monkey Rescue as they did not have the expertise to do so.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife confirmed confiscating close to 100 vervet monkeys. The organisation further claimed they had video footage of the condition of the enclosures, reflecting the appalling conditions in which these animals were kept. “We are not able to share this footage at this given time due to the current litigation in this regard.”

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife communications manager, Musa Mntambo, confirmed that 52 monkeys were taken on Monday to the iMfolozi Game Reserve where they were euthanased, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals.

He said they consulted with experts who considered factors like each animal’s age, physical structure, sex, and medical condition, before culling and burying them. Mntambo said he had been advised to refrain from making further comments regarding this issue as it would be sub-judice.

In response to the allegations regarding Crow’s involvement in the matter, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said: “Crow agreed to assist with the capture to limit the stress and injuries of the monkeys during the seizure, as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was going to proceed with the capture regardless.

“Crow was not able to catch the monkeys with a net, in most cases due to the size and conditions of the enclosures, as well as obstructions and therefore had to catch by hand, securing the tail and back of the neck. This is a term called scruffing and is a catching method approved by accredited rehabilitation facilities around the country. Handling in this manner does not cause damage or injury to the animal and is one of the safest techniques for both the handler and the animal. “We would like to make it clear that Crow distances itself from any decision made by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to euthanise any of the confiscated monkeys.”

Crow commented that it was both shocked and devastated by this information. “We were informed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, before and at the time of the capture, that the monkeys were being relocated to Hluhluwe. Please be aware that we would never have agreed to assist with the capture had we have known that they were going to be euthanised.

“We are enormously concerned about the amount of misinformation circulating on social media regarding Crow’s role in the decision to euthanise and are saddened by the large numbers of vitriolic and false posts in this regard, which have been very damaging to our reputation and the well-being of the wildlife we all care for. We will be seeking legal advice in this regard,” read a statement from Crow.

Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue is a non-organisation that rescues rehabilitates and releases vervet monkeys. Tracy Rowles, who runs the centre, said her organisation was granted an interdict on 1 April against Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife from removing the remaining monkeys and babies from its care.

“The reason for the bittersweet victory is that due to the actions of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife notwithstanding a permit application pending, who then entered the premises of Umsizi Vervet Rescue without notice on 29 March and removed monkeys which were immediately euthanised after leaving the premises of the sanctuary. These were healthy monkeys,” said Tracy Rowles of Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre. 

“The capture was just as cruel as their end as the monkeys were all scattering and screaming while one by one family members were captured and multiple monkeys shoved into one box with no food or water. “We confirm that aside from having old cages that there was nothing wrong with our cages and the SPCA and Ezemvelo has inspected those very same cages in the past, including in November 2020, when they arrived on-site at the sanctuary. Crow put up zoomed in and specifically angled photographs to distort the truth and make the sanctuary look as bad as possible to excuse the murder of our monkeys and justify its actions.

“We emphatically place on record that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has refused to communicate with and respond to serious questions raised by Umsizi Vervet Rescue regarding the manner in which monkeys were euthanized,” added Rowles.  

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