Bambelela’s main aim is to release the Vervets back into the wild, but unfortunately, some of them would not be able to survive, and so they move them into their very own ‘retirement village’. And this is where the rescued Vervets have adopted their feral cats, who they treat like their own pets.
Limpopo, South Africa (01 January 2022) – An adorable video uploaded by the Smithsonian channel is showcasing how rescued elderly Vervet monkeys at the Bambalela Rehabilitation Center in Limpopo have adopted a litter of feral cats who they treat like their own pets.
“It’s well documented that stroking a cat helps reduce human stress levels–but apparently, it has the same effect on a troop of vervet monkeys, who have adopted a couple of local strays.”
Bambelela works daily at rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing the Lesser Bush Babys, Chacma Baboons and Vervet Monkeys.
The incredible staff and volunteers concentrate mainly on Vervet monkey rehabilitation, taking in injured and orphaned monkeys, forming troops and finding monkey-friendly game farms to release a rehabilitated troop. To date, they have successfully given 15 troops (over 300 monkeys) a second chance to live free again. As a persecuted species, these monkeys had lost their freedom due to habitat destruction, illegal shootings by farmers, snares, electrocutions, pets or the Muti trade.
Their main aim is to release the Vervets back into the wild, but unfortunately, some of them would not be able to survive, and so they move them into their very own retirement village. And this is where the rescued Vervets have adopted their feral cats, who they treat like their own pets.
Watch the adorable video below:
by 