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What to do when vervet monkeys become a nuisance. (Original by The Vervet Monkey Foundation)

The Vervet monkey is an "Old World Monkey" primate species indigenous to South Africa. They are also a close relative of ours, and therefore, highly intelligent and adaptable. They live in complex social structures, known as troops, and are very similar to tribal societies with an alpha male (chief) as leader. Vervets use an elaborate verbal system of communication that incorporates an extensive vocabulary, body language, and facial expressions.
Even though man has always been fascinated with these monkeys, very little is known about them and their role in nature is only now becoming acknowledged and appreciated. The reason why so little is known about this wonderful primate is due to its previous classification as "VERMIN". As a result, no interest was shown towards them and consequently the available information about this primate is very inaccurate, incomplete and prejudiced.
Even though humans display a great fascination and love for monkey primates, Vervet monkeys are still persecuted and killed indiscriminately. It is therefore, the intention of this booklet to inform people of the true nature of these wonderful creatures and most importantly, the role that they play in nature. It also explains why they lose their inherent fear of man and begin to interact with people.

BACKGROUND
Unlike most wild animals, Vervets have the ability to climb and jump over fences and most other obstacles. Therefore, they are not easily contained, especially since they cannot be fenced in with traditional fencing. Over a period of many years, and as their habitats began to diminish, troops of Vervet monkeys became more and more exposed to their human cousins, man. To compound the problem, these monkey creatures fascinate humans and as soon as contact is made with them, we begin to befriend them by offering a variety of delicious and interesting things for them to eat. After many years of this interaction, monkeys lose their inherent fear of people and begin to interact with us. Consequently, people living next to or in natural areas start to experience more and more incidents with monkeys.
We must also understand that not all people complain when Vervet monkeys come onto their property, indeed they encourage them, welcoming their visits and openly feed them. (Studies show that people, who befriend monkeys, are not happy until they get the monkey to come right up to them and take the offered food right out of their hands. There are cases where people invite monkeys to join them at a table where they would have "tea with the monkeys".)
It has been established that the people who make the original contact with Vervet monkeys are not always the ones who end up with problems. What frequently occurs is that new residents arrive, also become fascinated by the monkeys and befriend them. These monkeys become braver and more familiar, often gaining access to inside the household and generally cause havoc. Now, feelings of resentment are built up by these humans and they advocate the killing, removal or relocation of the monkeys who are in fact the original residents of the area.
The Hamptons Wildlife Care Centre is well aware of this conflict between people and Vervets, and we endeavour, through education and encouraging co-operation from the public to learn to live with Vervets. Problems experienced with Vervets can be corrected without killing, re-locating or eradicating them.

WHY MUST WE LIVE WITH THEM?
We must begin to learn to live with monkeys, because they play a very valuable role in nature and many of the plant and animal species owe their existence to, and, depend on Vervet monkeys.
Here are just a few examples. It has been ascertained that many plants are not only reliant on monkeys to spread their seed but such seed must actually pass through the monkey's digestive system before they can germinate. Indeed, studies carried out in the rehabilitation of the dune mining in the Richards Bay area proved that monkeys have the ability to replant areas and rehabilitate them NATURALLY, by defecating seed in open areas of their forest. Therefore, it is obvious that when any troop of monkeys is eradicated the entire ecological environment suffers and the affected area becomes deforested and loses natural plant life.
Vervet monkeys are diverse eaters; this means that they eat a variety of foods which can be broken down into: fruit, berries, leaves, flowers, pollen, nectar, lichens, gum, bark, shoots, roots, grasses, seeds, insects in all phases, and bird eggs. Because of this varied eating habit they play a valuable role in pollination as they visit trees that are flowering and while foraging in them for nectar, their coats become impregnated with pollen, which is then brushed onto receptive stigmas. Vervets also groom other mammals like small buck and duikers and this action removes parasites and employs a valuable role in preventing disease. Vervets also control insect populations, as they eat all stages of insects from eggs to adults. Their insect controlling abilities however, is best illustrated by their love for insect eggs, thus preventing the emergence of adult insects.
Another factor that we must consider is the uniqueness of these remaining troops of Vervets. Firstly they are probably the only ones left in the area and have become trapped in pockets of natural habitat for them to live in. Secondly, if you had to trace the origin of the troop you will find that it is the remains of an ancient troop that has been around for millions of years and used to be ninety to a hundred and twenty members strong. Culling, trapping exercises, road kills, poisonings and indiscriminate shooting of them has resulted in these smaller troops.

SOLVING THE PROBLEM!
From the above it can be determined that humans caused this problem and we have to take responsibility for reversing it. Just as it took a long time for the monkeys to lose their inherent fear of man so it takes time to recondition them to stop interacting with us. Instead of eradicating or re-locating them, the Community can work together to solve the problem.
Here are the DO'S and the DO NOTS that we must all follow. The most important thing is to stop feeding them, so the first do not is:

1. DO NOT FEED THE MONKEYS. Here signboards must be erected and the community becomes the wardens who must politely stop any person whom they see feeding a monkey.

2. DO NOT LEAVE FOOD LYING AROUND or unattended, this includes pet food. Rather put your pet's food in an area that is not accessible to monkeys or, feed your pet at night when the Vervets are asleep. Rubbish bins must be tightly closed and where monkeys have learned how to open them, they must be secured in a more efficient manner. Simple strips of inner tube can be cut and looped around the lid and handle, making it impossible for a monkey to get at the contents.

3. DO NOT ENCOURAGE CHILDREN to eat in front of monkeys.

4. Be very firm, DO NOT encourage, or allow monkeys onto your property the one-day, then chase them away the next. This confuses them and may make them aggressive.

5. DO educate your children in the DO's and DO NOTS.

6. DO form action groups and get the community involved.

In extreme cases we recommend the use of catapults to chase them away, we endorse the use of pieces of potato cut into suitable sizes, big enough to show them that you mean business. If you ever manage to score a direct hit with a potato, it cannot cause injury but this will be enough to scare them away. This method has proved to be very successful at hotels that were experiencing severe monkey problems. All of the waiters carry catapults and the monkeys now seldom come close to the hotel or interfere with their guests. Remember monkeys can be conditioned not to come onto your property.
Monkeys are fun and interesting to watch, but that is all that you must do, and that's the way to live with them. In South Africa there are communities that have learned to live with the Vervet monkey, such as in the sleepy little town of Duiwelskloof nestled in the Low-Veld Mountains of the Northern Province, where people have been living with Vervet monkeys ever since the town was established. Today large troops of monkeys can be seen roaming freely through the town, co-existing with the residents. If they can do it, then we can do it as well.
If the community feels that they would like to feed monkeys, then the way to do it is to locate a spot in their natural area where the monkeys are known to regularly frequent, and is far enough away from people. Here, you leave the food for them, but remember: never try and feed them by hand. However, before you do this you should first discuss it with your local Conservation Department.
If you would like to know more, then please contact the The Hamptons: we would also like to know of any projects of this nature, as we may be able to help directly with suggestions on suitable signage, and expert advice.

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Interesting fact: The Vervet monkey, like the White Rhino is classified under appendix II of the CITES convention, (Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species). This means that it is a species threatened by extinction. A troop of monkeys is a complex living organism, and has the means to survive as such; when a troop is eradicated it has no means of replicating itself and therefore, that troop becomes extinct….