The Darwin Primate Group is a registered non-profit organisation that rescues and rehabilitates primates in South Africa.
An introduction to the DPG would not be complete without its ambassador, King No Hands, pictured above.
No Hands began his journey as a wild vervet living in Knysna with his troop. As an exceptionally street and bush smart monkey, with a wealth of life experience, he soon found himself in the enviable position of alpha male. Sadly, his high status was cut short when he was trapped and lost both his forearms.
Somehow he healed, and somehow he adapted.
In August 2007, I fist heard about this remarkable monkey when a friend sent me a photo of No Hands making his way to some unknown destination using the most practical option at the time - the telephone cables. Although the photo was hazy, and it was clearly a rainy day, I could make out that this proud monkey had learnt to survive and adapt as he walked upright with incredible agility, his strong feet gripping the cables.
After some months, as was to be expected, another male took over his group and kicked him out, but without all his weapons intact he had difficulty connecting with a new troop. Instead, he chose an easier survival option and found what he thought was the perfect home; a guest house whereby tasty, food was readily available, windows were open and dogs were nowhere to be seen.
The owner of this guest house fell in love with him as do all who meet this charming monkey. But her guests unfortunately - due to age old misconceptions that cause unecessary fears, threatened not to support the guest house unless Mr No Hands was removed. Or killed.
And that is how he made his way to the DPG....
ABOVE: RESIDENT WILD BABOON TROOP ARRIVES AT THE DPG:
As the only primate rescue centre in the Western Cape, this project is concerned with the rescue of vervet monkeys who have been orphaned and injured in the Western Cape. We are based in The Crags along the Garden Route. Our objectives are to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict between humans and other primates in South Africa, develop, publicise and advocate constructive methods to protect primate species and to work towards a safe and protective environment where these primates can be released.Species such as the vervet monkey, chacma baboon, caracal, bushpig and jackal have been historically treated as "vermin" under extremely cruel legislation in South Africa. Their status has changed from "vermin" to "problem animals" to "damage causing animals" with slight changes in legislation making no difference to the way these animals are persecuted.
Laws that present a facade of protection are not enforced in practice.
Populations are not monitored and their true status remains unknown. The vervet monkey and chacma baboon, although listed on CITES appendix 2, continue to be severely persecuted.
With human development continuously encroaching on the territories of wild animals, the vervet monkey is being forced more and more to co-exist with humans. These areas are often low on predators but baboons and monkeys are killed on power lines, run over on roads, mortally injured by pellet guns, and shot. They are also trapped for biomedical research, the pet industry and for traditional medicine (muthi).
Vervet monkeys are usually being brought to the DPG in a very damaged state. If you are interested in how the rehabilitation is progressing or how you can prevent conflict with either vervets or baboons, or if you are simply curious about the plight of South African primates, keep an eye on this site.
On a 17 hectare patch of indigenous rainforest, near Plettenberg Bay, Karin Saks is devoting her life to saving the primates that occur there naturally, vervet monkeys and baboons.
The DPG is situated on a rented piece of land - there is a rustic corrugated iron home and no electricity. Karin functions with permits issued to her by conservation authorities. Her aim is to make sure that the animals that come into her care are rehabilitated and released back into the natural forest which surrounds her centre.
Baboons and vervets are trapped, shot, attacked by dogs and poached with wire snares. This is their story. Every picture here tells you what these endearing animals have to endure every day as their natural habitat shrinks.
Stories on the DPG blog and web sites tell of baboons and monkeys that have been poached by snares and gin traps.... shot at, run over, attacked by dogs and orphaned by farmers who have shot their mothers.
As the only rescue primate centre in the Western Cape, the work of the DPG is crucial to the future of South African primates.
The DPG needs all the help they can get. They rely solely on the support of the public.
As the only primate rescue centre in the Western Cape, this project is concerned with the rescue of vervet monkeys who have been orphaned and injured in the Western Cape. We are based in The Crags along the Garden Route. Our objectives are to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict between humans and other primates in South Africa, develop, publicise and advocate constructive methods to protect primate species and to work towards a safe and protective environment where these primates can be released.Species such as the vervet monkey, chacma baboon, caracal, bushpig and jackal have been historically treated as "vermin" under extremely cruel legislation in South Africa. Their status has changed from "vermin" to "problem animals" to "damage causing animals" with slight changes in legislation making no difference to the way these animals are persecuted.
Laws that present a facade of protection are not enforced in practice.
Populations are not monitored and their true status remains unknown. The vervet monkey and chacma baboon, although listed on CITES appendix 2, continue to be severely persecuted.
With human development continuously encroaching on the territories of wild animals, the vervet monkey is being forced more and more to co-exist with humans. These areas are often low on predators but baboons and monkeys are killed on power lines, run over on roads, mortally injured by pellet guns, and shot. They are also trapped for biomedical research, the pet industry and for traditional medicine (muthi).
Vervet monkeys are usually being brought to the DPG in a very damaged state. If you are interested in how the rehabilitation is progressing or how you can prevent conflict with either vervets or baboons, or if you are simply curious about the plight of South African primates, keep an eye on this site.
On a 17 hectare patch of indigenous rainforest, near Plettenberg Bay, Karin Saks is devoting her life to saving the primates that occur there naturally, vervet monkeys and baboons.
The DPG is situated on a rented piece of land - there is a rustic corrugated iron home and no electricity. Karin functions with permits issued to her by conservation authorities. Her aim is to make sure that the animals that come into her care are rehabilitated and released back into the natural forest which surrounds her centre.
Baboons and vervets are trapped, shot, attacked by dogs and poached with wire snares. This is their story. Every picture here tells you what these endearing animals have to endure every day as their natural habitat shrinks.
Stories on the DPG blog and web sites tell of baboons and monkeys that have been poached by snares and gin traps.... shot at, run over, attacked by dogs and orphaned by farmers who have shot their mothers.
As the only rescue primate centre in the Western Cape, the work of the DPG is crucial to the future of South African primates.
The DPG needs all the help they can get. They rely solely on the support of the public.
The photos here show some of the primates that have been trapped in poachers snares. This is a growing problem in South Africa.
For some, primates are seen to be a traditional food source while for others they have become a food source simply because snares trap indiscriminately and hunger has taken over.
For some, primates are seen to be a traditional food source while for others they have become a food source simply because snares trap indiscriminately and hunger has taken over.
