Vervet monkeys are a common sight in many South African neighbourhoods, especially in areas close to natural habitats.
While these intelligent animals are fascinating to watch, their curiosity and adaptability can sometimes lead to conflict when they venture into residential spaces in search of food.
Fortunately, coexistence is possible — and it begins with responsible human behaviour.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 t𝐨 d𝐨 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 n𝐨𝐭 t𝐨 d𝐨)
1. Stop feeding the monkeys.
Feeding vervet monkeys encourages them to associate humans with food, leading to dependency and increased frequency of visits to residential areas. Kindly discourage neighbours from doing so and explain the long-term problems it creates.
2. Keep your distance.
Avoid encouraging monkeys to come close to people, particularly children. Remember — they are wild animals and should be treated as such.
3. Secure your home and waste.
Always keep windows and rubbish bins tightly closed and fastened. Reducing the sight and smell of food significantly lowers the chances of unwanted monkey visitors.
4. Condition them to stay away — safely.
You can gently deter monkeys from your property using a catapult loaded with small cubes of potato. This method will not harm them but helps teach them boundaries.
5. Keep food out of sight.
Whether indoors or outdoors, avoid leaving fruit, snacks, or pet food on display. Out of sight, out of mind!
6. Make your bins monkey-proof.
Secure your rubbish bins using an old bicycle inner tube to create a “monkey-proof” seal. This simple trick helps prevent monkeys from rummaging through waste. Share this information with your neighbours so the entire community can work together to reduce vervet-related problems.
7. Join the cause.
Become a member of Friends of the Vervet Monkey to support local conservation and awareness efforts.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 m𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 m𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐲-p𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 b𝐢𝐧
Vervet monkeys are drawn to easy meals — and household rubbish bins are often the biggest culprits. To make your bin less appealing:
• Use an old bicycle inner tube to secure the lid tightly.
• Ensure there are no gaps where smells can escape.
• If your bin has handles, loop the inner tube over them for an extra seal.
By removing easy food access, up to 90% of vervet monkey conflicts can be eliminated.
Keeping Your Garden Monkey-Free
To discourage vervets from visiting your property:
• Pick fruit as soon as it ripens.
• Avoid leaving pet food outdoors.
• Install netting or deterrent plants around fruit trees.
• Keep compost heaps covered.
Minimising visible food sources will make your garden a much less attractive stop for hungry monkeys.
𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 s𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐀 h𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞 a𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
In some cases, strategically placed feeding stations can help control vervet movement and prevent them from foraging in residential areas. One successful example comes from a popular tea garden in Limpopo Province, where proper placement helped reduce local conflict.
For guidance on setting up a controlled feeding station, contact info@vervet.za.org.
