Winter is a ‘testy’ time for local wild monkeys

High levels of Testosterone mean male monkeys are more confident than usual and could be ‘cheekier’ than normal.

Photo courtesy of Barry Bowditch, Ballito

Winter is a time when male monkeys are preparing to breed. High testosterone levels tend to make them more confident and could lead them to interact with humans more ‘aggressively’ than they would like. Environmentalists warn people to be a little more cautious around monkeys at this time, their natural food sources are diminished in the winter months and thus they tend to encroach further into human habitats in the search for food too.

Despite the common misconception that the monkey population is exploding, the common Vervet monkey is actually under threat.  Studies show only one out of every four babies actually make it to adulthood. Motor cars, dogs, electric fences, poison and pellet guns commonly cause infant deaths.

It is usual for a foraging troop to split up during the course of the day to find different food sources, but return to the main troop to roost at night. This can mislead people to believe there are more monkeys in the neighborhood than there actually are. Females remain within their home troop all their lives while males move off at sexual maturity to find alternative homes.

Tips from the Monkey Helpline:

• Monkeys do NOT carry rabies and are not a threat to humans or dogs in this way.
• Do not feed monkeys by hand or by means of a ‘feeding station.’ This will only encourage them to return, even if you are not there and forage through your kitchen.
• Feeding Stations are created to encourage monkeys to move AWAY from an area where they are causing problems – a feeding station should only be created with the help of an expert.

To Contact Monkey Helpline: 0826594711 or 0824115444