Another vervet monkey was spotted in Noordheuwel, part of Roodepoort, since Monday.
Chad Mileham, a Director at Disaster Relief Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and also manager of the WhattsApp group – “Vervet Monkeys Info-Gauteng” said several wildlife frequent the area during migration, including jackals, baboons and vervet monkeys.
They use the belt in Heldekruin, Roodekrans, Florida and all the way down, to Northcliff and surrounds.
Cora Bailey, Founder of the Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW), said “when male Vervets and baboons become sexually mature, nature dictates that they leave their birth troop to avoid inbreeding and find a new troop to join. Unfortunately, they often end up in the suburbs, but there’s no need to panic about a dispersing male baboon or Vervet at all.”
Bailey said the baboon is very vulnerable and scared, without the protection of his troop and will move from one area to the next in search of food and water.
“Please do not approach, chase or corner him, or he’ll feel threatened and may react negatively. Also do not feed him, or he’ll keep on returning to your home looking for more.”
Her advise, is to rather go indoors, if you spot the monkey and take pets along with you, close windows and the door.
It is also important to ensure fruit bowls and other edibles are out of sight.
There is a WhattsApp group for reporting wildlife sightings, including baboons.
“It’s very important to post sightings on the appropriate WhattsApp group as soon as he’s been spotted, so that CLAW can monitor his movements and rescue him once he settles down in one area. They will then relocate him far away from any urban area to a natural habitat where he stands a chance of joining a wild troop” she said.
Picture: Supplied