THE Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) is celebrating a historic milestone, as for the first time in more than two decades, their monkey enclosures are  empty. This achievement follows the successful release of 89 rehabilitated vervet monkeys into the wild.

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The monkeys were set free in three troops of 37, 32 and 20 monkeys each, with the final troop having been released in May this year in a protected nature reserve close to Zingela, Colenso. Clint Halkett-Siddall, the director for Crow, said the monkeys were held for a short while in a transitional holding facility before being released into the wild, where they are now learning to survive in their natural environment.

“It was an historic moment for Crow and for the troop,” he said.

The release was also a first for an ongoing research project on vervet monkeys.

“The release was groundbreaking as four of the female monkeys were fitted with tracking collars. These will provide vital data on their movements, behaviours and integration, with monitoring support from the Inkawu Vervet Project, sponsored by the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and in collaboration with Crow and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the coming weeks,” said Halkett-Siddall.

He added that the release was made possible after years of planning, rehabilitation and the refurbishment of the KT Vervet Monkey enclosure, a dream project that has now become a reality. “The funds raised for this upgrade of the KT Vervet Monkey enclosure was years in the making and comprised three major donations – in 2020 Compass Cares provided R154 000, then in 2022 a specific fund-raising campaign provided R187 500 and Crow also received a bequest which has totalled R460 000,” said Halkett-Siddall.

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The newly designed KT enclosure is now 1 035m², with walls of differing heights of 4m to 2.4m. Halkett-Siddall said it features improved climbing and hiding structures to provide optimum physical stimulation and enrichment for the monkeys throughout their final years of rehabilitation.

“Once the upgrades are complete, our 2023 troop will move in for the final stages of their rehabilitation, with our 2024/2025 baby troop scheduled to move into the enclosure this spring,” said Halkett-Siddall.

The successful release and upgrade of the monkey enclosures signifies the possibilities when science, compassion and conservation all come together.

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