As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month and everything that makes our country so unique and special, a premier, residential eco-estate has focused its attention on dealing with one of our country’s most intriguing dynamics – humans living alongside wildlife. Simbithi Eco-Estate, situated on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, recently launched an educational environmental series aimed at addressing the delicate balance of humans living in harmony with wildlife, in particular with vervet monkeys. In partnership with the Urban Vervet Monkey Project Simbithi Eco-Estate’s latest initiative is aimed at providing the community with valuable information on managing human-monkey conflict while maintaining a harmonious co-existence.
The Urban Vervet Project (UVP) has been formed to study the behaviour, life history, cognitive causes and consequences of an urbanised population of vervet monkeys located at Simbithi Eco-Esate. The first session of this series delves into how to handle interactions with vervet monkeys, a topic that has become increasingly relevant. “Heritage Month is a time to reflect on our rich, natural heritage,” explains Jodi Chetty, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Simbithi Eco-Estate. “As a pioneer in eco-estate living, we have always been very purposeful about creating an environment where wildlife and urban living intersect. Vervet monkeys form part of our daily environment, so the purpose of this series is to educate and inform our residents about how we can coexist peacefully. How we behave directly impacts their behaviour,” she adds.
Learning to Co-exist with Vervet Monkeys
Vervet monkeys are highly intelligent, adaptable creatures that have thrived in urban areas. Their ability to learn quickly and take advantage of easy food sources has positioned them as one of the most successful wildlife species in human-dominated environments. However, feeding or interacting with these monkeys can disrupt this balance and lead to negative behaviours. To address these challenges, the Urban Vervet Monkey Project and Simbithi Eco-Estate’s Environmental Director Margi Lilienfeld provided the following guidance to residents:
- Do not feed the monkeys: There is enough natural food available, and feeding them encourages unnatural behaviors.
- Secure your home: Install monkey-proofing measures, such as mosquito screens or monkey bars on windows and doors, to prevent entry.
- Avoid interaction: While tempting, especially with young monkeys, interaction can cause them to lose their natural fear of humans.
- Hide food: Avoid leaving food like fruit or bread visible, as this can attract monkeys into your home.
- Proper garbage disposal: Ensure all garbage and recyclable waste are stored in secure bins to prevent scavenging.
- Use a water spray bottle: Calmly chase away monkeys with a spray of water, coupled with a “shhh” sound to discourage them from staying near your home.
- Never act aggressively: Human aggression only increases defensive and aggressive behaviours in monkeys.
- Provide escape routes: Should a monkey enter your home, give it a way out and calmly encourage it to leave using water sprays or sounds.
“By taking these measures and spreading awareness through expert advice provided by organisations like Urban Vervet Monkey Project, we hope to create a peaceful and respectful environment for both the community and the monkeys who share this beautiful space we call home,” says Chetty.
For more articles like this click here.
If you enjoyed this website then check out our other sites: Wedding and Function, Kids Connection, Thirsty Traveler, Boat Trips for Africa, Bargain Buys, Business Link.
Need help with your online marketing then visit Agency One.
