Where I live, in South Africa, we don’t have lions roaming freely, as some may think. We do however have troops of Vervet monkeys that scurry about our gardens, farmlands and even city centers. These furry little guys are mostly found along our coastal regions and they are always a sight to see – I never get tired of watching their shenanigans! While these critters can be quite a nuisance and are known for intruding homes in the search for food and treats, it really is lovely to have this bit of wildlife on our doorsteps!

Monkey sitting on my fence.

APPEARANCE

Vervet monkeys are small in size, with the males being slightly bigger than the females. You could say an average body size would be 50cm in length when they stand up right. They have tin black faces and grey body fur, finished off with long and sleek black tails. These monkeys have very human-like characteristics, from the way they eat to even the way they play! Below is a photo of the furry creatures playing on my son’s playground equipment.

DIET

While Vervets are herbivores, I have seen them eat insects on the odd occasion too. They love catching flying ants and munching on the buttery bodies (yuck)! I live next to a sugarcane field and they visit us almost daily so that the can munch on the sugary treats (leaving one hell of a mess as they do)! The critters aren’t always satisfied on eating the plants and fruit they find however. If you leave your window open they are very likely to sneak into your home and invade kitchen cupboards. Just the other day I came home to a disaster where the monkeys had stolen my peanuts and left a great big monkey poop on my kitchen counter – as a welcome home present…

Sorry for the overshare!

DISPOSITION

These little wild animals are somewhat harmless. I say somewhat, because on the very rare occasion they have attacked humans, mostly just by biting. I have also heard of instances where the monkeys have killed small pets. For the most part though, like all animals, they are more scared of us than we are of them and when they do attack, it’s because they feel threatened. The Vervets that roam the area where I stay are more on the friendly side and come very close to us, some will even bravely wonder up to our feet in the hopes of being fed.

DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS! 

Many people have gotten into the very bad habit of feeding the Vervets. Not only does this encourage them to get too cosy and close too humans, but it also upsets their diet and hunting habits. Their little stomachs cannot handle refined sugars found in bread and other human food, giving them all sorts of health problems. When they are fed they are also discouraged from going out to hunt, making them lazy and more dependent on sneaking through windows in search of food in our homes. 

Very sadly so, humans in our area have been mistreating these tiny creatures, since they can't cope with some of the havoc they cause. They are being shot with pellet guns and paint guns too, which you can imagine has been causing many injuries and even deaths! This is not on! As a result, a Monkey Helpline has been established in many areas, where you can report viewing of injured or abandoned monkeys. These monkeys will then be rescued and rehabilitated, with the hopes of reintroducing them to their natural habitat.

I am extremely blessed to live where I do, I love my view from my home and I love LOVE it when the Vervet Monkeys pay a visit. My little son also gets super excited when he seems them and is always eager to join them in their mischief. I hope you enjoyed learning about these adorable creatures!

Much love - @sweetpea

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