2011 has been a year of hope. Hope reminds us all never to give up no matter how bad things are or what may seem impossible. Although there is many a sad time when not everything can be saved, and then there are many often hostile people who misunderstand vervets, the environment and wildlife, there are also incredibly dedicated people out there amongst staff and volunteers who continue to surprise us of how much they want to help in the plight of the vervets and their habitat.

This year more than 15 monkeys have succesfully been integrated into natural troops and the juveniles will be shortly integrated into their troops also.

Thanks to Chris & Hollie, education programmes have been implemented to the local and surrounding areas in schools which is something we hope to continue with next year.

Six events have been attended in UK this year thanks to Sarah-Jane (UK events co-ordinator) & husband Nick Smith who have been an outstanding amount of help along with all the volunteers who helped them.

Two events have been attended in South Africa to spread awareness within eco-schools and at sustainability events and all PASA workshops and conferences this year were attended by staff to fulfill the need of sanctuary management, veterinary care and education.

Dave and myself recently attended the PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) Veterinary workshop in Uganda, November 2011, which was hosted by Josh & Lily of Ngamba Chimpanzee Island. It's always great at these workshops that sanctuaries from all over Africa can share their challenges not just their successes through the year which enables sharing of important information to further improve the health of the animals in our care. There were also vervets near the hotel and even a bar called 'the monkies' so it was home from home. We even tried to do our own bit by educating the hotel staff about vervets.

Four monkeys this year were released directly back into the wild with their troop after treatment - either bitten by dogs or hit by cars. We can only directly return monkeys if we know where the monkey was located in order to follow up a troop, so information is vital to ensure maximum numbers are returned to the wild. Sadly orphans (whose mums are frequently shot) are unable to be returned directly to the wild as they no longer have their mother's milk and so we form stable troops at the sanctuary in the hope that we can match them with monkey foster mums and eventually rehabilitate their troop into the wild in the future.

This season brings many orphans and we are urging people who find an orphan or injured monkey to please take it to your nearest rehabiilitation centre as soon as possible. Please don't wait or try to keep them as pets, it is not only illegal to keep them but also detrimental to the animal.

There will be more to come in our Year End Report but for now never, never, never give up, there is always hope....

Steven Irving, Robin Huffman, Frithjoff Brinkmann, Remi Brissaud, Ellie Laraman, Nicole Leandro, Gina Swain, Cat Collins, Federica Cabella, Katherine Mary Richardson.

Welcome back:
Dawn Puttock

The breathtaking painting below is only part of the painting at the volunteer cottage by volunteer and artist Robin Huffman. Robin paints many meaningful pictures from the heart. You can see some of Robin's other work on her website below:

Peaceful Portraits - art for wildlife conservation

A few weeks ago our first baby orphan Spiegel arrived after his mother had been hit by a car. A person had taken him to a local vet who then called us to come and pick him up.

The first few days Spiegel appeared very stressed, but after a couple of days we saw a major improvement. 

A few days after Spiegel came in, we decided to try and put him with a foster-monkey mum. We decided on Chico, an 11 year old female monkey who lives in the sickbay enclosure. Chico has been an ex-pet in the past and is confident around certain people once trust has been built. She does not mind being in an intro-cage which meant that it would make our task much easier as it would mean Spiegel could drink from the feeding cage whilst she looks after him. The first time we took Spiegel to Chico she started chattering and tried to hug him through the fence. She started grooming him and showed us that she really would like to have Spiegel as her baby.

After they had met through the outside of the fence, we decided we should put them together. In order to do this, I carried Spiegel into the intro-cage and as soon as i opened the door Chico tried to hold him. In the beginning I would hold Spiegel's tail gently to make sure that she would not try and steal him and run away (as other females in the troop often do this). After a while I let go of his tail and they started jumping and playing together.

Due to the integration of Spiegel and Chico going so well, I then went out of the intro-cage so that they could be together and behave just like a real mother and baby monkey would. Chico and Spiegel are now having a great time together. Being an ex-pet, Chico knows how to use a blanket and even continues to copy me by wrapping Spiegel up in a blanket when he is frightened. When they both become tired Chico also takes the blanket to their sleeping perch and wraps Spiegel and herself up for the night. So far, Spiegel and Chico are doing amazing. They are now in the intro-cage together full time, Spiegel is not concerned with people anymore and we are even beginning to let other monkeys from the troop into the intro-cage. This will teach Spiegel to get used to them and learn how to behave socially. Spiegel is being really confident with the other monkeys and we are soon going to let him and Chico out into the enclosure so that they can have a good time together and live as real monkeys!  

Orphan Ayla who arrived last month looked after initially by Hollie is still learning the feeding cage before we can put her full time with a foster mum but so far Dolly is taking a keen interest in both Spiegel and Ayla so they will both have a lot of support in the troop.

If you would like to donate a tin of babymilk for Spiegel & Ayla, please click below using our online shop:

Click here to purchase a tin of babymilk

Integration for last year’s babies at Dino Daniel enclosure is still an ongoing project for the staff and volunteers here at the VMF. Very few integrations are easy, and this one has certainly been a challenge for people and monkeys alike, with injuries, sickness and trips to the vet.

It now seems that we are finally making some progress, however. Over the last couple of weeks, we have slowed the integration down to a pace that the babies are more comfortable with, working on introducing them to Mistletoe, the instigator of Dino Daniel by bringing her into their cage by herself.
Mistletoe started off by making a point of her rank within the troop to Honeybear, walking up to her and mounting her, slapping her, but eventually grooming her. With that out of the way, she was happy to go make friends with a few of the babies, who started out by huddling in a pile in the corner, terrified, but gradually relaxing a bit as she groomed Johan relentlessly, regardless of whether or not he was enjoying it!

After a few days of this, we shut most of the troop into a spare intro cage, leaving Mistletoe, Bebe, Malandro and Meisie out in the enclosure, and with a bit of coaxing, the babies and Honeybear all came out into the enclosure. I was in the enclosure in the event that something bad happened, but instead spent the whole time at a distance from the babies, watching them somersault through the grass, rugby-tackle each other, and eat every bit of greenery in sight, with Mistletoe watching calmly just a couple of metres away.

The following day the babies were out in the enclosure again, this time without any coaxing from us and a couple more of the juniors out with them. They stayed close to the cage but had a great time exploring the little area close by, getting adventurous now and again and straying a little further, climbing a little higher in the trees and bushes.

Meanwhile, in the cage next door to them, ex-pet Francis has been meeting the Dino & Daniel troop monkeys. Despite the fact that she came in with a pale face from a lifetime indoors, and no idea how to climb or jump, she’s doing remarkably well. She’s met most of the troop now and has been play-fighting with everyone, especially Forest. She has a surprising amount of confidence for a monkey who hasn’t had the easiest of starts to life. Even Jessie (who comes into the bigger cage and bullies Honeybear) was put in her place by Francis yesterday. She has a way to go yet with some of her behaviours and balance, but her confidence with the other monkeys counts for a lot.

For those of you who missed the Dino & Daniel babies going out into the enclosure for the first time earlier this year, you can now view the 5min video for free below:

Click here to view the free Dino & Daniel video

Petitions to sign and take action on:

Tell the UK, Keep strong animal protection standards:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/271/534/081/

Stop the Primate Trade from Mauritius:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-primate-trade-from-mauritius/

Primates should not be kept as pets:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/primates-not-playmates/

• If you live in Sooth Africa and find an orphan or injured monkey please contact us asap on 083 4545 381 or info@vervet.za.org
  
  
• Please do not keep any primates as pets
  
  
• Try to source products not tested on animals
  
  
• Go veggie / vegan or at least cut down on animal products and source alternatives as often as possible
  
  
• Display our volunteer poster
  
  
• Ask for our wish list of needed items
  
  
• Be involved in our UK events
  
  
• Adopt a monkey or purchase gifts from our online shop

• Adult male Opal sadly passed away last month despite all our efforts. Opal had recently returned back to his enclosure at Skrow troop after amputation of some of his toes due to a suspected snake bite but one month later and after one week of successfully climbing trees and living life in the troop, he became paralysed again but this time much worse. Opal sadly died as Dave and myself were on the plane back from Uganda. Opal had been integrated with the Tweedles at the beginning of 2010 and very much kept himsefl to himself enjoying the bugs and grass. The area we saw him foraging most is out of view and so we suspect the rest of the troop and other monkeys didn't see the snake (vervets are usually excellent at spotting snakes and have a speciific snake call), it was a miracle that he survived at all and made nearly a 90% recovery but as sometimes happens in nature, it finally got the better of him.
  
  
• All the Koko Juveniles & Dino & Daniel juveniles were microchipped, health checked and weighed this month thanks to Hollie, Chris, Lacey, David and volunteer Jess.

• Snow White was always nervous and the lowest ranked monkey living in Skunkey A with Amber and Jasper and so we decided to move her in with Thandi who she knew years ago. Both are getting along well. Snow White is even becoming the dominant one and is far more confident since the move.

• Puma & little Brunswick spent many months of being in an intro cage due to Puma's ill health. Puma is now fully recovered and both are living back in the troop after a period of re-integration. Even Alpha female Lizzie is taking on the role of looking out for confident 1yr old Brunswick - (the only one of his age in the troop as the males are vasectomised). Thanks to volunteers Steve, Alex, Sarah and voluntary Middle Section carer - Melanie for help with the re-integration.

Don't forget to place your orders in time for Christmas

Click here to view the VMF online shop

Thank you this month to:

Alison Davidson – donated bunny bottles, suture materials
Joyce van der wateren – donated babymilk and food
Mrs Marianne Russell – donated a tin of babymilk
Steven Irving – donated babymilk, a whole bag of medical and supplies for the monkeys
Julie Hart
Robin Huffman – donated tea tree oil and painted the volunteer cottage
Trudy Humphry-Rankin – needles and syringes
Louise Skeldon
Dave Protter from Response Rescue  – donated large amounts of medical supplies
Steritech – donated Vetguard products
Kathleen Healy – donated a tin of babymilk
PASA – donated medical supplies & uniforms for local staff courtesy of Jill Moyse at Lincoln Park Zoo
Ashley Pelley – held a fundraiser at the International fair at her college and raised R1400 by selling choc monkey & banana cupcakes, banana breads and two adoptions.
Lacey McCutchen – organized a pub quiz night, a jeopardy night, a bingo night, made sangria and sold cinnamon rolls
Hollie & Chris – Held a bake night fpr the release site
Claire Boucher sent over some syringes and supplies for the monkeys
Lorraine Belcher held a stand at UWE employers fair, Bristol to raise awareness about the vervets
Joe Apsey - bought a small pool for the volunteers to cool down in during summer

All the staff and volunteers for taking part in the VMF Veggie / Vegan challenge this month

For those who would still like to donate, please click here:

Click here to donate

At the Vervet Monkey Foundation, although we are a sanctuary and rehabilitation centre for vervets, we feel the need to educate people about environmental issues as feel it would be wrong to help a species but to have no concern over their habitat or planet. The VMF Veggie / Vegan Challenge is still ongoing to raise funds for a release site and those who wish to sign up for it still can. This will be an international event that we plan on taking place each year.

Some quotes from volunteers currently doing the challenge who have either gone from meat eater to veggie or vegan or from veggie to vegan are:

“When watching Gary Yourofskys speech about veganism, I found myself unable to find a counter argument to practically all of his discrepancies regarding the dairy industry, giving me some food for thought!” Joe Apsey, UK, (meat-eater to vegan)

“Being vegan is pretty awesome at times humus and tomato toastie and a pot of soya chocolate dessert yummy” Helen Sunter, Uk (vegetarian to vegan)

“This isn't as hard as I thought, and it feels good too, typical of the VMF to change my life again!” Helen Sunter, UK (vegetarian to vegan)

"Day 3 of being vegan, black cherry soy yoghrt surprisingly nice" Daniel Grove, UK (vegetarian to vegan)

“The challenge is going really well actually, I didn't realize how easy it would be to go from meat eater to vegan! Some of the best meals I have had have been vegan! Most dark chocolate is vegan as well, so that has helped my addiction to chocolate” Hillary Brown, US, (meat-eater to vegan)

"Even if you don't believe in vegetarianism or veganism, remember that this challenge is for the monkeys and it's them who will benefit by being the VMF's first troop to be released into the wild." Daniel Grove, UK (vegetarian to vegan)

“It takes far less resources to feed someone with a vegan diet than that of someone with a more meat and dairy based one. World hunger is an issue that being vegan can effectively address.” Daniel Smiles, UK (vegetarian to vegan)

“I have found the challenge to be very rewarding, not only in the knowledge of helping the vervets, but in improving my own health and the well being of all other animals as well. Going vegan is something I've thought about doing for a while and the VMF challenge gave me a good reason to make the switch. “ Lacey McCutchen, Canada (vegetarian to vegan)

"People that eat meat always ask me how I feel about 'missing out' on meat, the irony never seems to register to them on what the animals are missing out on just so that someone can eat a piece of their leg. I think the speech did a good job of conveying this information across to the audience" Chris Osborne, New Zealand (vegetarian to vegan)

Remember don’t be afraid as a consumer to check which products are animal free and not tested on animals – use consumer power. Supply & demand – the more you support cruelty free businesses and products, the more they will supply and vice versa. There is still time to sponsor people to do the challenge, just click to donate online then e-mail Josie@vervet.za.org with who you would like to sponsor.
To read more about the VMF Veggie / Vegan Challenge click here

You can join the event on our facebook group where you can also chat to others doing the challenge and follow posts on the link below:
Click here to join the event via our facebook page

A time for giving - make this Christmas a cruelty free one and lets give life back to the planet by not eating animal products even if it's just for one day. You can purchase the VMF vegetarian and vegan recipe book online where you can make a fantastic vegetarian or vegan Cashew Nut Roast with stuffing for Main course. Here's a recipe for a Vegan Christmas pudding below too:

To make Vegan Christmas Pudding - click here

There are also plenty of vegan alternative's to cream and some excellent soy custards and dark vegan chocolates out there.

Points of view - by Shel Silverstein

Thanksgiving Dinner is sad and thankless
Christmas Dinner’s dark and blue
When you stop and try to see it
From the turkey’s point of view

Sunday dinner isn’t sunny
Easter Feasts are just bad luck
When you see it from a viewpoint of a chicken or a duck.

Oh how I once loved tuna salad
Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too
‘Til I stopped and looked at dinner
From the dinner’s point of view

Please choose peace over suffering this festive season, whatever you are celebrating....the VMF will be preparing a vegan meal, what will you choose?

Lina Reghenzi, Sydney Zeldis, Carole DeGiorgio (return), Ian Harryman, Jen Godwin, Heather O' Brien, Jessica Quast, Sinead Nolan, Garrett Bales, Michelle Lison, Markus, Demelza Bond, Lauren Cauley, Paul Dalgarno, Sophie Enns, Matthew Chard, Genevieve Robichaud.