What is the problem with vervet monkeys?

Vervets frequently come into conflict with humans . They are considered vermin due to crop raiding and as a result are often shot, poisoned, or trapped. While vervets do not attack people, they may bite or be aggressive in self-defence. Vervets are also killed for bushmeat in some areas.

Are monkeys considered pests?

In some areas, some species of monkey are considered agricultural pests , and can cause extensive damage to commercial and subsistence crops. This can have important implications for the conservation of endangered species, which may be subject to persecution.

What is the vervet monkey known for?

Chlorocebus pygerythrus They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use . Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity.

Should you feed vervet monkeys?

Stop feeding the monkeys and don't allow anyone in your neighborhood to do so . Try explaining the problems feeding vervets can cause. Do not encourage them to come close to people, especially young children. Keep windows and rubbish bins securely closed and fastened.

Why are vervet monkeys hunted?

Many of the these Vervet Monkey raid our Orange crops in the Fall and Winter , so culling out these monkeys is of great importance to us. We can accommodate hunters of any age and experience level.

Are vervet monkeys good pets?

Vervet monkeys are also hunted for their meat, which is known as bushmeat. Unfortunately, these beautiful monkeys are also trapped and sold as pets. People need to remember that monkeys are wildlife and do not make good pets ! They are loud, messy, difficult to care for, and can be aggressive.

How to get rid of vervet monkeys?

5 ways to deter vervet monkeys and chacma baboons Don't feed them. We've all seen the signs: don't feed the monkeys and baboons, or any wild animals! ... Protect or harvest fruit and vegetables. ... Secure your rubbish bins. ... Secure proof your home. ... Use deterrents to keep primates out.

Are vervet monkeys protected?

The Vervet Monkey is listed on Appendix II of CITES and on Class B of the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is present in most protected areas within its range within the assessment region . No specific conservation interventions are necessary at present.

Are vervet monkeys invasive?

The government of Sint Maarten in the eastern Caribbean has approved a controversial plan to cull its entire population of vervet monkeys, as the proliferation of the invasive species becomes an increasing nuisance on the Dutch island territory .

Are vervet monkeys friendly to humans?

A friend of ours who is a primate naturalist has observed a degree of reciprocity between vervets and humans in their midst . If you respectfully ignore them the chances are that they will respectfully ignore you too. So, when the monkeys are around, we proceed with what we are doing calmly and avoid staring at them.

Are vervet monkeys vermin?

There are no major threats although Vervet Monkeys were classed as vermin in parts of their range and they are actively persecuted (shot and hunted) by landowners in areas where they raid crops or interact with humans.

Vervet monkeys are sometimes viewed as pests (2024)

Overview
Challenges
Solutions
Habitats

What is a vervet monkey?

The vervet is a small, black-faced monkey, common in East Africa. There are several subspecies of vervet monkeys, but, generally, the body is a greenish-olive or silvery-gray. The face, ears, hands, feet, and the tip of the tail are black, but a conspicuous white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers. The males are slightly larger than the females and easily recognized by a turquoise-blue scrotum and red penis. The vervet is classified as a medium- to a large-sized monkey. The tail is usually held up, with the tip curving downward, and the arms and legs are approximately equal lengths.

Scientific name

Cercopithecus aethiops

Weight

3 to 5 kilograms (6 to 11 pounds)

Size

400 to 600 millimeters in length (15 to 24 inches); with tails about 300 to 500 millimeters in length (11 to 20 inches)

Life span

Up to 30 years

Habitat

Challenges

Vervet monkeys are sometimes viewed as pests.

Vervets living near areas inhabited by people can become pests, stealing food and other items and raiding crops. This leads to a heavy annual slaughter by poison, traps, and guns.

They have become valuable to research.

In recent years, vervet monkeys have been considered a valuable research animal, making live trapping prevalent as well.

Solutions

Our solutions to protecting the vervet monkey:

Community Involvement

Foster symbiosis between wildlife and people.

African Wildlife Foundation works with communities living in close proximity to wildlife to incentivize conservation. In exchange for refraining from retaliatory killing or hunting for bushmeat, communities receive training in sustainable, and more productive, agriculture techniques that lead to enhanced food and economic security.

Schools

Tap into education.

Conservation schools are another way that we are protecting wildlife and assisting communities. Conservation schools allow AWF to build outstanding schools in rural areas with the agreement that the people living in the community will set aside land for wildlife to live undisturbed. Conservation is also built into the school’s curriculum, creating a new generation of people informed on, and committed to conservation.

Behaviors

Vervets adhere to a strict hierarchy.

The small monkey’s society is built on complex but stable social groups (called troops) of ten to 50 individuals — mainly adult females and their offspring. There is a strict social hierarchy among troop members. Males transfer troops at least once in their lifetime, beginning at puberty. This is a dangerous process, not only because of the predators they may encounter in transit but also because troops dislike immigrants.

The hierarchical system controls feeding, mating, fighting, friendships, survival, and even grooming — an important part of the vervet’s life. They spend several hours each day removing parasites, dirt, and other materials from one another’s fur. In the hierarchy, dominant individuals receive the most grooming.

Infants are cherished in vervet society.

Newborns have black hair and a pink face, and it takes three or four months before they acquire adult coloration. Infants spend the first week of life clinging to their mother's stomach. After about the third week, they begin to move about by themselves and attempt to play with other young monkeys. Infants are of great interest to the other monkeys in the troop; subadult females do everything possible to be allowed to groom or hold a new infant. Researchers report that usually a female's close family members will have the most unrestricted access to the babies. As the infants grow, they play not only with monkeys but also with other young animals.

Diet

Vervet monkeys enjoy a mostly vegetarian diet.

Leaves and young shoots are most important in their diet, but bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots, and grass seeds are also consumed. Their mainly vegetarian diet is supplemented with insects, grubs, eggs, baby birds, and sometimes rodents and hares. Vervets rarely drink water.

Habitats

Where do vervet monkeys live?

In East Africa, vervet monkeys can live in mountain areas up to about 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), but they do not inhabit rainforests or deserts. Their preferred habitat is acacia woodland along streams, rivers, and lakes.