New warning signs alert campus visitors to monkey danger
The management of the Potchefstroom site of North-West University (NWU) has put up warning signs to alert students, staff and visitors to the danger of vervet monkeys that have been roaming the campus for several years.
The signs have been erected at the start of the second semester at the nine pedestrian and vehicle entrances to the Potchefstroom campus following several incidents, including attacks and threats, during the first semester of the 2022 academic year.
The increased interaction with the monkeys followed the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, allowing more students back on campus and encountering the animals.
Louis Jacobs, NWU spokesperson, said: “It is the university’s responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all staff, students and visitors”.
He said it cost the university approximately R6000 to make and put up the 14 boards, adding “it was very little compared to the risk posed if persons on our premises are not informed.”
According to a poll conducted by threestreamsmedia in March 2022, 4 out 12 students knew of someone who had been attacked by the monkeys.
Jacobs could not say exactly how many monkeys are on campus, but added that they are moving around as part of different troops.
monkeys on campus. Photo: Alischa Heunes
Jessica Scott, a fourth-year graphic design resident of Oppirif, accommodation for senior students, had a monkey enter her kitchen in June this year, whilst she was studying. At first, she thought someone had knocked on her door, which was closed, but it was actually a vervet monkey causing havoc in their kitchen.
“He had an empty milk box in his hand when he entered my room,” she recalled. It was only after that that she realised what had happened. She said that it was a scary unexpected encounter.
Mx. Otto, a communications lecturer on the Potchefstroom campus, recalls two bad encounters she had with the monkeys before the Covid-19 pandemic and believes that the boards are not actively doing anything about the monkey problem, stating “I’m not very impressed with the boards. I chuckle every time I drive into campus and I think, hmmm, really?”
Otto added: “Something must be done in an accountable manner. The authorities and management must put their heads together to find … an acceptable, ethical, and accountable way to deal with the situation.”
Jacobs, however, pointed out that “the university is busy with further initiatives, also involving the surrounding community.”
According to a study done by Lindsay Patterson, Riddhika Kalle and Colleen Downs, students at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, vervet monkey troop sizes are influenced by their proximity to food and water. An average troop ranged from 17 to 53 monkeys, with no specific ratio between male and female vervet monkeys.
Organisations such as the African Wildlife Foundation can provide support to enable communities and monkeys to live together. On their website they provide more information about the monkeys.
According to the website of South African Tourism vervet monkeys like to be in the rural areas and near houses as they know there might be some leftover food for them.
One tip, it states, is that if you are in a sticky situation with a monkey remember that if they stare at you with their eyebrows raised, it is an aggressive gesture and you should probably not come any closer. –By Ingerése Keuzenkamp, Amanda Viljoen, Amber Viljoen, Petra van Graan and Khaliphile Sithole.
Damn monkeys!
I am glad something is being said about this monkey situation. It is getting out of control. Why should I be scared to walk on campus and monkey’s chasing me after?! Why should I make a u turn when I see them, when it is me that needs to be here to study? If one of them bites the NWU must be sure of further legal stes
Great article, glad someone commented on the issue!
The boards are actually helpful because some people are very empathetic and they find themselves feeding the vervet monkeys. The boards might appear useless but I find then useful because I know what to do to avoid attacks from the wild animals. Although, I am hoping for a permanent solution. It’s been a while with these monkeys on campus. Something must be done to permanently remove them.
Thank you for creating awareness about this topic. The monkeys can become very territorial as well, especially when there is baby monkeys involved.
Can the monkeys be collected and taken to a nature reserve or zoo?
👏🙌
Yes about time this issue has been addressed .. it all goes about the safety off all.
I can imagine how traumatic it is to have an unexpected visitor in your room. I’m glad they are offering emotional support as well to address the issue.
Thank you for creating awareness regarding this topic. I know these monkeys can become very territorial, especially when there are baby monkeys in their troops.
The monkeys are becoming a huge problem all over South Africa. They are also quite vicious and don’t seem to be scared of humans at all. I can only think it is because they are being fed by some. I really feel for you all. It’s a really distressing situation and I just don’t know how this situation can be managed.
Well said Marianne.
Hoekom skiet ons hulle bie net nie?
Feeding Monkey’s has never been a good idea
I agree 👍
Thank you to the university for making sure the students are safe💃💃🙏🏽
Well written article!
It’s good to see the university and the community working together on this issue. Great article
We hoping for a better outcome and these warning signs will come in handy.
That’s so great, I’m so scared of monkey’s it must have been terrifying for the students.
This does need to be carefully contained though before it really gets out of hand and a student gets hurt. Monkeys are not exactly harmless.
I think they need to be taken away from the community, I believe the government have all means to do that.
I agree 👍👍
I total agree with it👍👍
I total agree with it .