MONKEY TOWN, in Somerset West, received a bad wrap in the Media this year with Carte Blanche’s television video interviews. The video footage was edited to portray animal cruelty and neglect of the primates at Monkey Town. Animal Rights Association (ARA) accused Monkey Town of cruelty and neglect to animals. The ARA requested the Cape of Good Hope SPCA to intervene and criminally charge Monkey Town in order that the monkeys and chimps at the Primate Centre could be removed to “better” conditions. ARA also requested Cape Nature to intervene and withdraw the necessary permits granted to Monkey Town. Finally, to add a bit of sensationalism to ARA’s mission pot, they arranged a grueling television interview by Carte Blanche and posted the footage on several internet sites. However, after a thorough investigation was conducted by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, they did not find that there were sufficient grounds to criminally charge Monkey Town. A volunteer from the UK, who was the Curator at Monkey Town at the time, found it necessary to create this huge debacle. Unfortunately, this was done at the expense of Monkey Town’s primary focus – the primates. One has to wonder what the objective of this Volunteer, who is apparently keen to come back to work at Monkey Town, was? Were the monkeys helped or harmed through this debacle?
Monkey Town received fewer visitors to the Primate Centre after Carte Blanche’s negative footage. The impact resulted in less funding to the Primate Centre. This increased the Primate Center’s financial burden. Rumors began to spread about Monkey Town’s closure. Thankfully, with the support of their Members and Friends of Monkey Town, they were able to financially recover from the damage caused by the one-sided “investigative journalism”. The Grobler family, owners of Monkey Town, has confirmed that they are not closing down.
A comment to Roseline Grobler, by Carte Blanche’s interviewer that her care of the primates “just isn’t good enough”, I found particularly interesting. I pondered on that statement for a while. I thought about Roseline’s routine with her monkeys, many of which have been in her care for twenty years. There are the abandoned or injured babies and adult monkeys and chimps which she nursed and fed bi-hourly, round the clock. Most of us were sound asleep while she was awake, bi-hourly, attending to their care. Then, of course, there is Garra, the black Spider Monkey, who arrived at Monkey Town and could not even climb a tree. Roseline spent two months climbing trees teaching Garra how to climb. I thought about Cebus, the alcoholic brown capuchin monkey. Roseline spent 6 months rehabilitating Cebus and nursing him back to health. I thought about the family sacrifices Roseline has made in her endeavour to care for these monkeys, which are like children to her, as Monkey Town is open 365 days.
I thought about the many monkeys which are donated to Monkey Town by frustrated pet owners who realize that monkeys actually don’t make good pets. These monkeys have become aggressive as they assert their dominance and are a danger to these pet owners if not cared for in a simulated natural environment. Roseline would rather take in these stray or cast away monkeys than have them put down. I thought about how Roseline has instilled her love and care for these monkeys in her children too. Colette and Rene, her son and daughter, have taken over many responsibilities from Roseline, together with Rene’s other half, Melissa. Their dedication and commitment to the primate centre is admirable. Colette and Rene have grown up with these monkeys and are as passionate about this extended part of their family as Roseline is. The monkeys at Monkey Town are in better care now, at the primate centre, than they were as frustrated pets in the Pet Trade or grossly abused and neglected victims of cruelty by previous owners.
I thought about that Cart Blanche interviewer and wondered whether she had the same capacity? If she did, what impact it would have on her personally and her business if some television interviewer told her that what she was doing “just isn’t good enough”.
I have been to Monkey Town on several occasions over the past 9 years with my family. Each time we have enjoyed our visit and found the cages to be clean, the monkeys well fed and cared for. Conservation is a tricky arena and simulating the perfect natural environment is virtually impossible and obviously there is always room for improvement. We all know that monkeys belong in the wild and that is best for them. When a family, such as Roseline, Colette and Rene Grobler, commit themselves to the huge task of caring for 250 monkeys one should applaud them. Applaud the dedicated staff and Keepers at Monkey Town for what they have accomplished. Give credit where credit is due. Twenty years of caring for primates including 9 years of owning and managing a primate centre deserves acknowledgement. Monkey Town is home to 250 monkeys, each with their own dietary requirements and species care.
A visit to Monkey Town in Somerset West should be on your To Do list. The Grobler family and staff of Monkey Town are warm and hospitable. The monkeys love having visitors and they are an absolute delight to interact with. Careful they don’t mess on your head! The chimps, Tammy, Ruby and Sunny will keep you entertained by their interaction with each other and curiosity in their surroundings. Luke and Charmaine the Spider monkeys, are sure to be part of the welcoming committee at the start of your Tour. We found our Guide, Thulani, to be knowledgeable on his subjects and very good with kids. Our girls also had a wonderful experience with the Lemurs and Squirrel monkeys in the Interaction Centre. Monkey Town is a fun family experience which you are sure to thoroughly enjoy.
To view Monkey Town’s response to all the allegations made against them, click on this link http://www.light-art.co.za/subject/MonkeyTownResponse.htm
