In memory of…

Since I started blogging, it was all focused on the babies, the baby season and their heart felt stories of how they ended up at the Vervet Monkey Foundation.

Well, today it was my time to leave and I’m now on my travels, to say I had a blast is an understatement. It was hard this morning walking around Engeljie troop, the troop I have helped to de-worm 3 times in my 6 month stay. The troop that likes to keep Lou, their section staff, on her toes by always squabbling and not giving Lou any peace for 5 minutes.

Saying goodbye to the babies I helped care for was extremely hard. All but 1 have got mums now, so therefore it was a hands off goodbye, but I got to see them happy, healthy, with their new lives and new families. It’s been a rewarding 5 and a half months, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions, from being heart broken they are with us but when they look to us for love, care and attention, it makes the job rewarding and fulfilling.

I wanted to write a blog about 4 monkeys in particular. There are 600, give or take, monkeys at the foundation and each have their own individual stories of why they are at the foundation. They could be an ex pet, could have been injured and brought to us and not able to be released again. They could have been castrated or had their teeth pulled, meaning they won’t necessarily be able to live in the wild and fend for themselves. There’s several reasons and stories as to why monkeys are at the foundation.

But the 4 monkeys I would like to write about, are 4 monkeys that touched the hearts more than others of the staff, interns and volunteers and this is my tribute to them.

Skunky – also known as skunky monkey!

Skunky was 26 years old when he passed away. He was an ex pet of an elderly couple, who castrated him and kept him, living a human life for his first few years of life. Skunky potentially suffered a stroke at birth, and when orphaned, there was no place for him at the time to live amongst other monkeys that had been rescued, so a pet he became.

Skunky was a placid, quiet and a gentle soul and he met 1000’s of people in his life time when he arrived at the VMF, and each and every one of those people had a soft spot for Skunky. His beading eyes of wanting to pull that twig out of your hair, or to want to be talked too every time you walked past his intro cage, or to simply just be around people. He was content.

As the years went on, Skunky’s health deteriorated, he was on special meds to make sure he wasn’t in any sort of pain, he was given special plates with extra special food and extra extra special portions to keep his health stable and his body condition acceptable. However, after Christmas, it was clear Skunky was ready to say his goodbyes. He carried on being his happy self in his last few days, until he was simply too weak to greet you at the fence with open hands assuming you had something special for him (which of course… everyone always did)!

On January 14th, Skunky was surrounded by the people who cared and loved him as he took his last breaths. He knew he was spoilt, loved to the end of the earth and everyone would have done anything for him. He lived a happy life, albeit not a true life in the wild., but he absolutely didn’t care he didn’t have a ‘normal’ life… that’s what made Skunky…. Skunky.

 

Whitey – also known as kung-fu whitey!

Whitey was a monkey that defied time… In the wild Vervets live to roughly 15 years…. well this little lady lived to the very grande age of…… 32! I know!

I am unsure on how and why Whitey ended up at the foundation, but I know she was the queen of sass, even in her last days.

Previously, alpha of SAAV troop, in her prime Whitey was a ruler of her troop. She was firm, but fare and if a monkey deserved a slap, she would make sure she was first in line. Even when Whitey was involved in a fight that took pretty much her whole top lip, it didn’t stop her being the diva she was born to be.

Whitey loved the orphans that would come in, being alpha she had the pick of the bunch and would always take priority. Whitey not only lived way past her expiration date, but she carried on being a foster mum up until the grande age of 25! Mostly because I think the babies were getting so fat so quickly, she couldn’t carry them around!

Whitey ended her last few years in an intro cage attached to the side of SAAV troop, where she would still try and keep her monkeys in check through the fence. Which to her dismay, didn’t work and she gave up. Ready to live retirement in her spruced up intro cage! Whitey lived like a queen! she had a bedroom made for her which would contain several blankets and water bottles on cold days and every night to cuddle up too, she had a feeding station which was off the floor so the ants didn’t get to the food as she would take her time eating… But she also used to have her food cut up for her so she could manage it easier… personally I think it should have just been blended to make it quicker, but chopping Whitey’s plate up on AM plates were peoples highlights of the day.

The reason behind the name of Kung-fu Whitey will make you laugh for sure. Tania, our sickbay staff member, (who btw is the most amazing person to be able to work with the poorly monkeys and still have a smile on her face), on Tania’s first few days, she went into Whitey’s intro cage to put her plates in and instead of putting them on her feeding station, placed them on the floor, which confused Whitey for a moment. When Tania realised her mistake, she went to pick the plates up but within a split second Whitey had managed to some how move like the speed of light and slap Tania on the arm! It was something out of a comedy show almost. Tania learnt her lesson very quickly, and although Whitey may be ancient and looks as though if she turned side on, you wouldn’t see her… her sassy side still lived on inside.

Nearer the end of January, Whitey took a turn for the worst and the decision was made to pull her into sickbay where she can be monitored through out the day. The chance of a stroke? The chance that her old age was finally catching up with her? Who knows, but it was clear she was ready to say her goodbyes and on February 2nd, the staff, interns and volunteers said their goodbyes and Whitey was taken to the vets to end her life with dignity.

 

The same as Skunky, 1000’s of volunteers passed through the foundation while Whitey was alive and the Facebook post to announce her passing hit record high of likes and shares. People from all around the world were sending their condolences to the foundation, as well as their funny stories and memories of her. It was heart warming that so many people took the time out of their day to think of Whitey for a few moments.

Leanie – also known as Leanie bear!

Leanie was an ultimate favourite of sickbay staff, Tania. I unfortunately have no history on this beautiful girl, but she touched the hearts of many.

Leanie spent a fair few years in sickbay troop, but the last few months, she made the decision to leave the troop and asked to go into an intro cage. Leanie was on special meds, with special foods (which included extras when Tania was on shift) to keep her body condition and her health at an acceptable level.

Around end of February, beginning of March, Tania and meds staff Olivia, made the decision to bring Leanie into sickbay where she could be monitored closely over the course of the day as she was showing signs of old age (even more so than normal).

It was clear Leanie was aging and she needed help to keep herself warm, so an abundance of hot water bottles, blankets and even a heat lamp were rallied together, to make sure Leanie was happy, warm and comfortable.

I would remember the days when I would walk into sickbay and Tania would have the biggest, cheesiest grin on her face and she would simply walk up to me and say…. ‘Go check out Leanie’s cage’. Which would always instantly make me smile because I know that Tania would have re arranged Leanie’s house to make it even more awesome than it already was. Well, I walked over and my goodness! The other monkeys would have been jealous! Leanie not only had a bed… but she had a hammock too, which she loved.

It was heart breaking to hear that Leanie passed away on March 3rd, I instantly went to find Tania and gave her a hug because I know she would have needed it, and appreciated it. Leanie wasn’t at a grande old age like Skunky and Whitey, but she still lived a long, happy, fulfilled life, and I know her last days would have been filled with even more love, yummy foods and even MORE hot water bottles and extra blankets.

 

Brownie – also known as Brown Town! (You’ve got to sing it for it to make sense).

Brownie was a lovely little lady who lived in an intro cage on the side of Engeljie troop for a few years.

Brownie originally lived in Engeljie troop and had 2 babies of her own, Bloem and Brownie Jnr pointy face (don’t ask).

Brownie, the same as Whitey, was sassy in her old age and would soon let you know if she wasn’t happy with something… mostly when she wasn’t given enough grass, she would look at you as if to say… ‘is that it?!’. You couldn’t get away with being stingy with Brownie and her forage!

Brownie had been aging for a few years and she was struggling with the super hot days, followed by the really cold nights. So Brownie would be given hot water bottles with extra blankets and would be monitored to make sure she was warm enough. Lou who is section staff for middle section, asked Innocent the head of the local workers, if he could make a bed for Brownie, just like what Whitey had! And of course, it happened! 1 because Lou wouldn’t leave Innocent alone and 2 because Innocent has soft spots for older monkeys and would do anything to make sure they are happy and content.

As well as a bed, Brownie also got a feeding station, just like Whitey had, and she instantly loved it! Brownie, somehow would also move at the speed of light and would run up her ladder before you even managed to shut the door behind you, before putting her food down.

Every time I would be doing sections, or de worming, or anything that involved walking past Brownie’s intro cage, I would always talk to her. ‘Morning Brown Town’ or ‘doing a bit of sun bathing are you Brownie’. She would most respond with a chirp and then go back about her business.

Brownie was a well known monkey and people would always ask after her and how she was after a cold night. Some days it would be so cold for her she would be moved into Sickbay where she would have extra love and care. She would have a heat lamp for the night and hot water bottles on demand during the day. Brownie was content and didn’t need or want for anything.

On Wednesday 14th March, Brownie made her decision it was time, and slipped away peacefully in her sleep. She wasn’t in pain and she wasn’t alone. It was hard for Lou because she so desperately wanted to be there, but what we knew about Brownie was, she doesn’t wait for anyone.

Lou was such a dedicated individual to Brownie and would check on her on cold nights if she woke up in the middle of the night, or if she couldn’t sleep. Lou would make sure Brownie always had hot water bottles and blankets and if needs be, would make a fresh hot water bottle in the dead of night if Brownie needed it.

 

It has been a tough year for our geriatric monkeys and we have lost others that decided it was their time,without showing any signs of ill health or struggles. Unfortunately it is just a way of life and everyone at the foundation feels it when a monkey passes away.

I hope I have done the 4 of them and their carers, proud by giving them a tribute and talking and remembering the good times. It’s nice to be able to remember the good times, the funny times as well as the heart breaking times by writing this blog. I’m currently sat in an airport cafe, missing my friends and the monkeys I have been helping, but I am so unbelievably proud of each and every individual I have had the pleasure of working with.

Keep up the good work guys, it may be hard, it may be stressful, it may be HOT, but everything you do on a daily basis, doesn’t go un-noticed.

To Skunky Monkey, Kung-Fu Whitey, Leanie Bear and Brown Town, forever in our thoughts, fly high.