Durban - A reward of R10 000 is being offered for the identification and successful prosecution of a “monkey shooter” on the prowl in the upmarket suburb of Umhlanga.
Local resident and animal lover, Rose Darrall, confirmed that residents have banded together to raise the funds and offer the substantial reward, after the shooting of two vervet monkeys during the Christmas week. Their baby was found abandoned and hurt.
“The troop, which normally came through my garden, has scattered. It (the shooting) has rattled them terribly,” said Darrall yesterday.
According to Monkey Helpline’s Carol Booth, who has taken the abandoned baby into their monkey sanctuary, both adult monkeys were shot with a pellet gun.
“We were called out to Umhlanga, where the mother had been found. She had been shot in the head and when we arrived, we noticed she had milk but we could not find a baby anywhere.
“We have had quite a lot of call-outs to that area recently and we believe there is a shooter,” said Booth.
She said the following day they received another call from the same road and the baby monkey was sitting on some scaffolding.
“He was skittish and very weak,” said Booth.
She said the baby’s father, who was believed to be the troop leader, was also found.
“The male had been badly bitten by dogs and shot in the mouth. We believe that when the mother was shot, he took the baby to try and look after him. But he also died,” said Booth.
The baby monkey, who was named Terry-John after the two callers who found him, refused to eat when he was first rescued. “When a baby witnesses his mother being killed, which is often the case, it is extremely traumatic.
“Terry-John had a deep graze across his forehead, which could have been from a pellet. “When I picked him up, he just collapsed in my arms.
“He sat with his head down and would not eat or drink. He went into depression, which is typical behaviour with babies who have seen killings,” said Booth.
To encourage the eight-week-old monkey to survive, Terry-John was put in a cage with another baby monkey and the two soon made friends.
“TJ is still having a bottle, but is also eating pieces of fruit and vegetables by himself. He’s doing well,” said Booth.
Independent on Saturday