Volunteer Rasmus Berglof from Stockholm, Sweden has been at the Vervet Monkey Foundation since April 27th and will be leaving on July 14th. Rasmus has seen how urgent the new orphan enclosure is and has been helping clear some land ready for it as soon as funds become available. With over 500 vervet monkeys to care for and mouths to feed, the foundation simply doesn't have the funding to complete the enclosure yet and so depends on donations and volunteers.

Rasmus has proposed to spend 24hrs in a monkey cage inside our sickbay area only eating food that the monkeys would eat. (Don't worry there are no monkeys in there!) This will take place on Tuesday 6th July 2010 from approx 4.30pm until 4.30pm the following day.

"Why do I want to stay in a monkey cage for 24 hours? - Rasmus Berglof

I have now been volunteering at the foundation for ten weeks and a lot of my time has been spent with the orphaned baby monkeys that currently live here. As the babies have grown older they have started to out grow their small cage. But as we still lack funds to complete their enclosure we can’t let them out yet. I thought that if I can raise some money for the babies in any way then I would. And even though it might have started off as a joke, being locked up for 24 hours, I thought about it and if it can help the babies to be able to become real monkeys sooner and to live their lives as naturally as possible, then I should do it."

How to help Rasmus raise funds:

If you are able to give $100 or more, we wil add yours or your company's name to a special plaque which will be displayed on the enclosure once complete. A list of all those who donated will be sent in our newsletter on completion.

Click here to donate via our website

or into our UK account:
Vervet Monkey Foundation UK,
Natwest, Account number 52024121
Sort code 01-07-71

or our SA account:
Vervet Monkey Foundation
Nedbank, Tzaneen
Account number: 1419-040-146
Branch code: 141-949
Swift code: NEDSZAJJ
IBAN code:ZAI NED SZAJJ 141949 1419040
Physical address: SHOP 8, TZANENG MALL, DANIE JOUBERT STREET, TZANEEN, LIMPOPO, SOUTH AFRICA 0850.

Please spread the word - this may be our last appeal for the enclosure so we hope to be able to complete it in time with your help. Please inform us of your donation at info@vervet.za.org

There are 9 orphaned vervets ranging from 6-9 months old and 3 juveniles ready and waiting to go into their new enclosure once it is complete. The sooner they go in there, the sooner they will learn about vegetation, climbing and be able to carry out more of their natural behaviours. The current enclosure will be needed from October onwards this year ready for any new orphans that come in so it's essential we can complete the new enclosure in time. The frist orphans that will go in the enclosure:

Hoppy - juvenile has only 1 foot and a scar down his back, found in a coal bunker of a train and suspected to have been abused

Mistletoe - juvenile alpha female, an ex-pet brought into the centre when she was already 18 months old

Scritch - juvenile, was orphaned due to a car accident and came in unconscious with heavy concussion

The other orphans aged 6-9 months include Mamba, Precious, Ash, Forest, Jessie, Chane, Skollie, Phylis and Ante.

The proposed enclosure will be just under 1 hectare in size with natural vegetation and trees surrounded by electric fencing. Volunteers have been busy clearing the area in preparation removing any invader vegetation and clearing firebreaks. Many more monkeys in addition to the current orphans will be integrated into the new natural enclosure in the future to form a troop.

If you or anyone you know can help sponsor or donate any of the following items we would be most grateful and will advertise your company on our website and in our newsletter:

• Electric fencing materials
• DIamond Mesh
• U.V Resistant 2mm rope
• Metal Posts
• 2.4mm high tension wire
• Y standards
• 2,4m steel droppers

Please contact us at info@vervet.za.org to see how you can make a difference.