The Vervet Monkey Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1993 dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of the vervet monkey on all levels. We provide sanctuary for orphaned, injured and abused vervet monkeys, rehabilitating individuals into viable troops for release and introduction back into their natural environment.

As many of you know we spent 3 months this year voluntrering in Tzaneen,South Africa at a monkey sanctuary for vervet monkeys. The foundation was set up by a man call Arthur Hunt, who has spent years studying and fighting for the vervet monkey to be taken off the vermin list in South Africa.

Arthur first got involved with vervet monkeys when he was given an orphaned baby vervet monkey (Regus) after his mother was killed. After ringing various organisations (including Kruger National Park) trying to get information on what to feed this monkey, the answer was always ''Kill it,it is vermin'' so he decided to study the vervet monkey to find out just why it was so hated.

After many many years of study and campaigning to the South African government, and narrowly avoiding prison on a few occasions for being in possession of a vermin monkey, Arthur finally got these beautiful creatures taken off the list, and thereare now laws in place to protect the species. Unfortunately many farmers still shoot the vervets, leaving many orphaned babies every year who are left to die. Without The Vervet Foundation (who now care for over 800+ monkeys ) troop numbers would have fallen to an even lower number than they are at present and would certainly face extinction.

Unfortunately the foundation has no goverment funding at all and rely solely on volunteers and donations. The sanctuary runs up huge medical bills every year. Through the years it has become apparent that these monkeys, when taken out of their natural environment, will physically and mentally shut down, dying within 3 days. The sanctuary provides a second chance for these creatures who have been orphaned, injured, or kept as pets, and reintegrates them with their own kind. Hundreds of vervets every year are intoduced to troops where they can live out safe, happy lives in a safe and natural habitat. This is a very delicate and slow procedure, but Arthur Hunt and a team of dedicated volunteers ensure every year, that orphaned baby monkeys can have a second chance at a normal existance.

Arthur, through many years observing and studying these fascinating creatures, is one of the leading primatologists in South Africa, and surely the most knowledgable source of information on Vervets in the world. He can perform the skills of a vet on these little animals after years of teaching himself, and can bring even the sickest little monkeys back from the brink, ensuring that the costly services of a vet are just one way the sanctuary can cut it's bills.

The foundation also supports a local Sutu tribe who have homes built on the land. These families work at the foundation, and are an integral part of the maintenance and running of the facility. In this way, the sanctuary provides a very worthwhile wildlife project and helps support part of the local community in the process.

Plans have been made for some of the fully integrated troops to be rehomed in the new 'Vervet Forest' development, that will hopefully come into fruition next year. The new forest will be designed to release these troops fully back into a natural habitat with minimal human interaction, but in complete safety, where they can finally be truly wild animals again.

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