Tied up, together in a bag, this is how two Vervet Monkeys were found in the Northern Province of South Africa. An elderly couple was heartbroken at the sight, and took the monkeys off the captors, saving their lives.
The two Monkeys who we have named ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ were temporarily taken to Irene McKenzie who looked after them until the Wild Heart Wildlife foundation could take them to their new home in the bush.
A third monkey, about three months old, who they named ‘Emma’, was surrendered by her owner, because she started biting, and was not as cute as they had thought.
“The monkeys get given names, because their rehabilitation period is long; up to three years! During that time, they need to be managed, treated, and sometimes identified as a future matriarch to teach the new babies in a troop. Certain of the older females become professional surrogates – they are the ones taking in new stricken babies and making sure they have the care and contact that keeps them healthy. With around 70 primates in different stages of rehabilitation, being able to identify them is crucial in the process of developing a troop for release.”
Bush meat is a very real and flourishing trade, even in South Africa. Wild animals get mercilessly poached and eaten or sold as food. One of the saddest sights in this world is that of a wild animal tied up, ready to be boiled, to be eaten.
“It especially hits home hard when it is an animal we can closely associate with, like a monkey, which is so much like a human.”
Vervet Monkeys are protected under SA and Provincial Law, and may not be kept as pets, sold, hurt, harmed or killed. Widely regarded as pests and vermin by farmers, these amazingly intelligent animals have a hard time finding a safe place to just be wild.
A few months ago, Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation took two rescued ‘Wild Babies’ to DIY Wild in Mpumalanga Province. One was a Baby Vervet – illegal pet, and the other a tiny Mongoose.
“We were blown away by the knowledge, care and pure love that Mitch and Sarah (Founders of DIY Wild) exhibit towards these little persecuted souls. There is just no substitute for hands-on experience and pure passion – something these people have in buckets. DIY Wild is also in the process of rehabilitating Nia, a serval whose mom died in a veld fire last year.”
They are currently in the process of releasing a completely rehabilitated troop back into the wild – this takes two weeks. Two weeks after three years of blood, sweat and tears – an amazing feeling to see them free.
One day, Bonnie and Clyde, little Emma, and also Harry (from a previous visit) will be among those to taste true freedom.
In the case of the three Vervets, it was DIY Wild once again, who stepped up and said: ‘Yes, bring them’. Looking after a primate costs in the region of ZAR500 – ZAR700 per animal per month.
Of course, as you know, WHWF never arrives empty-handed, especially not with such precious cargo, so we got to work and loaded a bunch of supplies that any sanctuary would love to have. Our supplies are kept safe by Cedar Storage, who kindly sponsors our Storage Unit.
Veterinary supplies like syringes, needles, gauze, bandages, band-aid, IV Sets, feeding tubes, thousands of items were loaded first. General Supplies like washing powder, toilet paper, tissues, dishwashing liquid, towels, blankets etc, all these things were lovingly packed and will make a difference in the lives of the Wild Babies, so that the carers can focus on helping them.
There was also some food for the volunteers, and little treats to help make their lives a little easier.
“We loaded up the Monkeys at 8am in Johannesburg, and only stopped once to feed the Baby Emma and check on the teenagers, Bonnie and Clyde. They were fascinated by the people at the rest stop, holding onto the bars with their little hands, and sometimes holding onto each other.
A kind farmer stopped next to them, and gave some treats for the precious cargo. He could not believe that people were going to eat the two cuties.
The most touching moment during the entire journey, was when they turned onto the dirt road. Suddenly Bonnie and Clyde could see bush – it was as if they knew they were close to safety.
Their behaviour changed completely, and they calmed down considerably. It was a truly touching moment.
When we arrived at the Rehab facility, Mitch took Baby Emma into the bigger enclosure first, still in her cage. But the rest of the monkeys were scared of Emma’s Teddy Bear.”
The offensive, scary teddy bear had to be removed before the troop could investigate Emma. There is a hierarchy – the matriarch has to check out the new baby first, and OK it to the troop.
“This she did very quickly. Five minutes after being set free from her travel crate, Emma was running, playing, jumping and being a monkey – as if she’d know her troop since birth.”
Bonnie and Clyde are a little bigger than the other monkeys, and when they were introduced, the troop ganged up on them and chased them around. But ten minutes later, this was their home, and they were fine, monkeying about.
These precious three souls now begin their journey to freedom. In a succession of ever bigger enclosures they will learn everything about being a family, and being wild. Until the day that they could also do the small jump to freedom.
Good Luck, Bonnie & Clyde and Emma!
by 