WAPFSA has grave concerns about provincial authorities enabling the cruel, indiscriminate and unscientific management of vervet monkeys.
It has come to WAPFSA’s attention that some conservation agencies, including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, may be permitting the removal or even the eradication of individual or entire troops of indigenous non-human primates such as the vervet monkey.
A communication from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife on the 10th October 2025 addressed to the Umdoni Retirement Community advises residents that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the South African Police Services will be conducting a scheduled Wildlife Management Programme in the Umdoni.
WAPFSA questions whether permits have been issued without reliable scientific data and without adhering to best practices or carrying out sufficient due diligence, such as the assessment of the vervet monkeys or impacts on the overall populations of this species or targeted individuals affected.
Vervet monkeys are listed under CITES Appendix II, however provincial and national scientific authorities are failing to provide the Minister or CITES with the legally required Non-Detriment Finding. Moreover, there has been no public consultation by provincial and national authorities in relation to our indigenous primates.
There is no evidence, despite extensive research by members of WAPFSA, of verifiable data collected by any of the provinces in relation to damage or threats to humans or pets from vervet monkeys, or evidence of effective and non-violent measures to prevent human conflict with these primates.
In areas where there is the prospect for human-primate conflict, there are a number of simple precautions to take or solutions that can be implemented to reduce such conflict, such as, for example, making sure food is not visible from any windows, properly disposing of domestic waste and, if necessary, installing clear primate barriers. These simple strategies must be exhausted before considering any other option.
Often, in response to anecdotal reports or complaints linked to lifestyle considerations rather than real conflict, authorities have been known to issue very broad questionable permits to allow invasive and cruel management procedures instead of insisting upon non-lethal solutions.
Similarly, scientists advise that when vervet monkeys are killed, the removal of an entire or part of a troop is highly traumatic and cruel. Members of a large troop cannot be killed simultaneously which results in some of the troop members being traumatized. This impacts the entire troop.
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