Vervet Monkey Foundation Grant Update

The grant from Wild Futures provided enough finances for 3 months to recruit two local unemployed people (under the training and supervision of project Manager Innocent) who we could train and pass on skills. One of the employees Lucas showed so much enthusiasm that we have decided to take him on permanently. By working in such close proximity to the animals created conversation about how they arrived here which gave opportunity for some educational discussions.  This in turn has led to a far greater understanding of the plight of these primates.

cementing the dimond mesh into the ground
cementing the dimond mesh into the ground

Skills that were passed on

  1. Mixing cement and proportions
  2. Planting of poles
  3. Structure reinforcement
  4. Fencing
  5. Wire pulling and tensioning
  6. Fence electrification
  7. Cage construction

The grant helped us tremendously in being able to employ people to construct and erect the enclosure in the time frame we had set aside. We have managed to not only redo the old enclosure but double its size which will greatly improve the lives of the monkeys.

New introduction enclosures were built first so that we could expand the current enclosure, the work then began on digging the holes for the corner posts and the support poles. This enclosure will be our new modern design not using stay wires but rather support struts from inside the enclosure improving on health and safety for volunteers working around the outside.

Cementing corner posts and laying the initial diamond mesh fencing was the next big task, having to dig a 200mm trench around the perimeter so that we could cement the diamond mesh fencing into the ground, this took a lot of sweat as the ground is very rocky and uneven.

volunteers helping with bobbins
volunteers helping with bobbins

The next task was tying all the electrical bobbins onto all the poles and then of course threading through the many strands of wire for the electric fence. The most  time consuming part was tying the nylon string between the electrical wires but we were fortunate enough to have lots of volunteers to help.

The highlight of the whole event and really a fantastic sight to see was the eventual removal of the old enclosure and watching the monkeys jump through into the new section, climbing the new trees and foraging in the new grassy areas was amazing.

Thank you Wild Futures for making this all possible and helping us create such a beautiful home for these monkeys.

Funding for the materials to re-build Royal Enclosure was initially created by Matthew Akister’s ‘Dave’s birthday surprise’ social media fundraiser. The grant from Wild Futures meant the enclosure was completed in 3 months by employing additional local temporary staff so the VMF team could continue working on the ongoing care and husbandry of the primates.