Cute, cuddly and funny … These are not the words many residents of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) will utter when talking about Vervet monkeys.

Recently, more and more residents would rather opt for words like pest, invasion, vermin, vicious and scary when they talk about these monkeys that have taken up residence in their gardens. Especially residents living closer to the forest area are harassed by what they consider to be roguish monkeys.

According to reports received, these monkeys have of late become so accustomed to humans that they are simply not frightened off anymore. The Vervet monkeys, also commonly referred to as blou apies, have also become increasingly sly, sneaking into the smallest of spaces or openings at homes to grab food, wreaking havoc in the process. There have also been reports of the bigger male monkeys becoming more and more aggressive towards humans and pets when they are being chased away or out of a houses.

Some households have reported that monkeys still manage to sneak into their houses, even though all the windows and doors have been barred. Nothing seems to keep the monkeys at bay, and as they become more and more “domesticated” residents are becoming more and more irate.

Local conservationist and PhD researcher Mrs Bibi Linden was asked to comment on residents’ concerns. She is currently studying the Samongo monkey as part of her PhD research and is a part-time lecturer at the University of Venda.

Linden said that the monkeys, who for the most part do not want any involvement with humans, are attracted to domestic homes by food that are high in calories and readily available to them. “They [monkeys] will eat almost anything we discard, not just vegetables and fruits,” explained Linden.

Compost bins or heaps, food scraps in the garden, bird feeders and fruit bowls near an open window are all things that offer monkeys an easy meal. Dustbins and bin bags are also a big temptation if they are easily accessible to the monkeys. 

Furthermore, if monkeys are cornered or feel threatened, they can harm humans too. Especially, says Linden, the male monkey that has very long canines.

She suggests several ways to prevent conflict between monkeys and residents. “Shooting at monkeys will only have a short-term effect. Possibly resulting in their rather raiding your neighbours for a period of time. People need to be made aware about the problem and have to understand that they are the cause of the problem,” said Linden. 

Monkeys will only move out of an area when their food source has been cut off. Linden recommends investing in monkey-proof dustbins (the lid has a special latch that monkeys cannot open), getting rid of food scraps properly, and convincing all your neighbours to do the same. She has also found that monkeys tend to avoid a vegetable garden that features a lot of herbs. Crops and compost heaps no longer offer an attraction if they are enclosed. 

Public parks in a neighbourhood area where dustbins are left to overflow could also do with regular cleaning, which will eliminate another food source for the monkey. “This will not be successful if only one person changes the rubbish and compost management and the neighbours don’t,” she said.

In a case where a monkey seems agitated, she recommends that the monkey be given right of way and, if the problem persists, that other arrangements should be made to take care of the problem.

Local animal welfare inspector from the SPCA Mr Lawrence Khodobo suggests that residents phone the local Department of Environmental Affairs to come and catch an uncontrollable animal.

According to Mr Dave du Toit, director and co-founder of the Vervet Monkey Foundation (a national non-profit organisation) in Tzaneen, these monkeys are classified as normal game with no special protection status. He warned, however, that it is still illegal to kill them.