It is less than two weeks to us leaving our home and garden and moving 1700 km (over 1000 miles) across the country to an entirely different environment and climate zone. Of the wild creatures that have visited our garden over the years, we will particularly miss the vervet monkeys.
Many suburban dwelling humans loathe visiting vervet monkeys so how is it that we found a way to live harmoniously with them? I think the first thing is to acknowledge that it is we who are invading their territory. At best their habitats are being eroded; at worst entirely destroyed. Additionally, they have to endure many threats as they seek to survive.

When we first moved here, we chose to take certain actions to reduce the potential for conflict and avoid making the vervets defensive and afraid. The easiest way to do this is to respectfully ignore them. A friend of ours who is a primate naturalist has observed a degree of reciprocity between vervets and humans in their midst. If you respectfully ignore them the chances are that they will respectfully ignore you too.

So, when the monkeys are around, we proceed with what we are doing calmly and avoid staring at them. Staring is bad monkey/primate etiquette. It’s fine to glance at them but then look away before glancing at them again. I soon learned that even pointing a camera at them makes them so uneasy that they move away, so most of the photos I have of vervets I have taken discreetly through windows or doorways.

Even though I say we contrived to make it look like we are ignoring the vervets when they visit, we also took some more concrete measures to reduce the likelihood of problems before they might arise.

Here are some of the things we did:
We put semi-permanent monkey-proof mesh on any windows we left open when we went out. Initially, on one meshed window we had a small mesh cat flap that allowed the cats access to their enclosed garden but successfully deterred the vervets from coming in. After a few years we removed the flap and found that the monkeys did not come in.

We do not leave food such as fruit out so that it is visible through the windows, even when we are home. Once monkeys learn that food is easily available in the house it is very difficult for them to unlearn this. Prevention is better than cure!
Likewise monkeys – in fact all wild animals – should not be fed directly and especially not by hand, as that habituates them to close contact with humans and to them associating humans with food. Habituated monkeys expecting food are not going to keep their distance and that can lead to conflict situations that do not end well for anybody.

We fenced in our veggie patch – including the ‘roof’ – to prevent the monkeys from eating our vegetables.
We knew that if we had a bird feeder the monkeys would have no way of knowing that we are not putting the food out for them. What animal would not eat food make available to them in this way? So why do some people think that monkeys are ‘thieves’ when they are simply eating food that has been put outside and looks to be freely available?

Rather than feeding the birds with a bird feeder (our winters are mild), our garden is planted with a diversity of indigenous plants providing seasonal fruits, seeds and flowers and opportunities for birds to glean prey items off leaves and bark or more generally hunt insects and other creatures inhabiting our garden. The monkeys too forage naturally from the plants in our garden. This type of foraging takes a bit of time and effort and monkeys of different social rankings all get a chance to find something to eat, from fresh shoots of grass to wild fruits and seeds.
In the wild, vervet monkeys are important seed dispersers. In gardens, their habit of dropping half-eaten fruits may seem wasteful, but in the wild not only does this aid in seed dispersion but they are effectively distributing the bounty to ground-dwelling animals. As an example, bushbuck have been observed following vervet monkeys in the hopes of picking up discarded fruits. We too benefit – there is a large old avocado pear tree outside our property and we have come to rely on vervets dropping the high fruits that we can then collect from the ground.

Of course, wildlife-friendly gardening requires a different mindset from the view that garden flowers are purely aesthetic. When birds, vervets or any other creatures eat fruits, seeds, flowers or leaves in the garden, we are pleased as we are of the view that is what the plants are for!

We did our best to train our dogs not to bark at or chase the monkeys (though we suspect that our two previous dogs in their younger days did chase them when we were not home). As described in a previous post, when we are at home if the monkeys arrive, we call our dogs to sit with us or we bring the dogs inside. The monkeys observe us doing this and they trust us sufficiently to then feel confident enough to come down to forage or play on the ground or drink water at the bird baths.

All this adds up to an atmosphere of peacefulness. When the monkeys visit or pass through, they are not chased or shouted at. Consequently, they need not feel afraid or defensive. We humans may misinterpret the behaviour of a fearful animal as being aggressive when more accurately it is being defensive.

It is best to avoid creating an atmosphere of fear and rather foster calmness and serenity where everyone, humans and monkeys, can behave with a degree of dignity. In the specific circumstances of our garden, it was up to us to choose whether to foster calmness or conflict. How much nicer for everyone to avoid conflict and not be on high alert for any perceived ‘transgressions’.

Imagine being a vervet and have new people and perhaps new dogs moving into your neighbourhood. To survive you continually have to be observant and vigilant. Imagine the relief if you find you don’t have to muster the energy to be constantly avoiding being threatened, shouted at, chased or worse.

In the wild, a troop of vervet monkeys has a stable group of females at its core. Female monkeys do not leave their birth group, which is tied to the troop’s inherited territory over many generations. Within the group are social rankings with some monkeys and their offspring being of higher rank than others.

Babies are brought up in the group primarily by their mothers sometimes with the aid of allo-mothers, usually older juvenile daughters who assist and learn mothering skills on the way. So, if you see a juvenile with a baby, it is not “babies having babies” (as my mother used to say erroneously and disapprovingly).

Female vervets become sexually mature at about four years of age, and so they are about five years old when they give birth to their first baby. They typically have a maximum of one baby a year. The mortality rate of baby vervets is very high. Threats to baby monkeys (and to adults too) come from natural predators such as crowned eagles and pythons, and more commonly from human-related dangers such as vehicles, fences, domestic dogs, power lines and from humans deliberately harming or killing them. Habitat destruction is also an ongoing threat to the survival of vervet monkeys, as it is to many other species.

Male monkeys mature at the age of five years and like many other animals, including for example lions, they then have to disperse from their birth group. After leaving they need to find another troop to integrate with. They may do this on their own or in the company of an age mate. As you can imagine, this is a very scary time for them. They have to face threats on their own without the protection of the group and in more urban environments it can be difficult to find a new troop to link up with.

There is a popular notion that a male monkey on its own is ‘rogue’, but most likely it is a rather scared/defensive and probably hungry monkey dispersing and trying to find a new troop to join.

Vervet troops include multiple female and male members. They do not have a harem system but have multiple male members of varying levels of rank or seniority. For males, rank may be improved through competition. Dominance behaviour is often ritualised although physical conflict can occur, more often during the breeding season.

Normal troop functioning can be disrupted if a troop is living under constant threats of violence and habitat destruction in urbanising environments.

If for whatever reason there is a need to deter monkeys directly, spraying water from a garden spray bottle or water pistol or by using a garden hose is a humane way of deterring monkeys, but we have not needed to do this. Should the unfortunate situation arise where you find a monkey in the house, make sure it can escape without being cornered. The monkey’s first concern will be to get away without any contact. After it has gone, figure out how best to prevent a future occurrence of a monkey or monkeys getting into the house. Pre-emptive prevention is always the best option.

For us, we have never had any conflict situations arising. It has been a privilege and a joy to discreetly observe vervets in our garden enjoying their visits here with dignity and calmness, allowing their babies a safe haven to rest and to play and practice their climbing skills.

I find it sad that many people see their garden as personal turf to be manicured, poisoned and defended. As I have said before, it is much more relaxing and rewarding to have a garden that is more natural and a haven to share with visiting birds and other creatures, including vervet monkeys. We would be very much the poorer without their presence.

This is the last time I am posting before our move away from the wonderful garden that inspired naturebackin.com. Next month, after we have settled in a bit, I hope to post from our new place in the Western Cape. I look forward to discovering new ways to let nature back in as we adapt to new habits and habitats and we hopefully learn more about ways of living more lightly on our precious planet.
Posted by Carol

February 18, 2023 at 11:58 pm
Carol, I hope your move went well and you’re finding new indigenous wildlife to observe. I’ve always wondered how life is with monkeys that are being stripped of their habitat. when they enter into neighborhoods. As you said so many dangers are present when they innocently enter a garden or planted areas seeking food. You created such a humanitarian way of living alongside these little monkeys, I’m sure you have a lot of wonderful memories of them. It’s heartbreaking that people cannot understand that it is our actions that have made wildlife go beyond the borders of their habitat, not understanding the consequences of our choices.
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March 10, 2023 at 2:38 pm
Hi Laura, thanks for the good wishes and all went well with our move and we are settling in. Been a bit too busy to spend much time observing wildlife but this is a beautiful part of the country and we look forward to spending more time outdoors.
I certainly will miss the vervets – they are only doing the best that they can under threatening circumstances, like so many creatures. I also wish that more of us were willing to learn more and be more flexible in our relationship with nature. Sending best wishes.
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February 14, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Best wishes for your move, Carol. Looking forward to hearing what nature can be found in your new surroundings.
Food often seems to be at the heart of conflicts with monkeys and so many other species. There are circumstances where it doesn’t cause problems, but many others where it does e.g. North American national parks where people frequently feed coyotes. And in the garden, as you say, planting ‘food’ in the form of native flora is the safest way to help.
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March 10, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Thanks very much Adele, we are settling in and there is lots of natural beauty here.
True what you say about food being at the heart of so many human-animal conflicts. I continue to hope that humans can learn to be more adaptable to nature!
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February 1, 2023 at 9:07 pm
This is one of the best articles I have read about normalising relationships between humans and vervet monkeys in urban areas! I wish your both well with your uprooting and look forward to learning about a new environment through your eyes.
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March 10, 2023 at 2:32 pm
Thanks very much Anne. It is a subject dear to my heart as you know!
Our uprooting in the main went well including for our animals who coped very well with the journey, and we are all settling and I am pleased we made the move. I hope to be posting soon. Sending best wishes.
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January 25, 2023 at 11:01 am
What a great post Carol! The photos are just amazing too. It’s a little sad that you are leaving this all behind, but then your new life and adventure awaits you! A totally different environment and climate, and I’m really looking forward to reading more about your new home and garden. Yes, baboons are very different to the little vervets and I’d definitely prefer the latter!
Wishing you all the very best with your move to WC. In particular, I hope all goes well with the animals on the trip. It’s always that part that stresses me out the most. I’m really looking forward to hearing all about your new home, location and all the forthcoming adventures there.
Good luck!
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March 10, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Thanks so much Megan. The animals coped with the move surprisingly well. How they have been settling in is mostly going well – stressful for us all but everyone has been pretty calm. It has been very tiring but we are pleased we have made the move and it is beautiful here. I hope all is well with you and I intend to be posting and starting to catch up soon!
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January 21, 2023 at 8:25 pm
What a wonderful final post from your abundant garden. Beautiful photographs and such well-considered and informative text. Everyone with a garden should read this article.
As you probably know, the Hogsback is home to the samango monkey and while we are often aware of them in the trees, we have only once had a ‘home visit’ when the fruit bowl was rifled. Now we close the windows if we go out.
I confess that seeing a troup of baboons in the garden is quite scary. This is also a recent occurrence. Our dog ignores them, as we do too, and they move on.
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January 21, 2023 at 4:21 am
Such a lovely farewell to your soon-to-be old place. I hope the new owners will follow in your footsteps and live harmoniously with nature. Good luck with the move. I hope all goes well, and I look forward to hearing about your new surroundings, in your own good time of course.
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January 21, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Thank you Graham. The new owners are interested in the garden and its visitors.
We are at the point now where we just want the move to be over! The ongoing heatwave is making preparations even more challenging.
There should be lots to discover at the new place and I am looking forward to that.
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January 23, 2023 at 6:20 am
Good to hear about the new owners. I think anybody moving just wants it to be over! I hope all goes well.
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January 20, 2023 at 7:51 pm
What an extraordinary post! So much beauty and sage advice.
Wishing you all the very best in your relocation and I’m sure your vervets will miss you very much.
Can’t wait to see your new surroundings. 🙏
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January 20, 2023 at 8:34 pm
Hi Gunta – thank you and it is kind of bitter-sweet sharing these images of the visiting vervets. I have been thinking about missing them but I am not sure how much they will be missing us, though they certainly will be very alert to the changes. I hope the transition goes well for everyone.
Thanks for the good wishes. Even though the move is imminent it still has a kind of unreality. It will be interesting to post about our new surroundings. Best wishes, Carol
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January 20, 2023 at 9:26 pm
I have made so many major moves in my lifetime that I know the bitter-sweet feeling all too well. Seems there is always the tradeoff. Challenges and opportunities often balance out. Sending you good wishes for the journey.
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January 20, 2023 at 9:37 pm
Thanks Gunta, we hope it will balance out and we are up for the challenge. A main preoccupation now is moving with our cats and dogs. We have been doing some practice runs but the actual journey will be long. It will be good to get there!
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January 20, 2023 at 11:42 am
There are so many lessons to be learned from this beautiful post, Carol. I shall miss your wonderful garden! Good luck with the move and with those early days of settling in. I’ll look forward to seeing your new environment when the time is right.
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January 20, 2023 at 8:29 pm
Hi Sandra – we will miss the garden and its visitors, but it does feel like time to move on. I am sure the new people will be happy here. It will be strange not having this garden as a focus for this blog.
Thanks for the good wishes for our move and it will be interesting to see how things go in a very different garden and environment. Best wishes from here.
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January 20, 2023 at 5:52 am
Dear Carol, What a joy the monkeys have brought to your lives by your caring and respectful attitude! I wish more people could do the same. Yes you will miss them, however I am sure there will be new wild inhabitants where you are moving to and another voyage of discovery for you. I look forward to observing these through your unique perspective. My very best wishes, xxx
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January 20, 2023 at 8:26 pm
Hi Christeen, we will miss them for sure and we wish them well in a world full of uncertainties and threats. I am concerned about the well-being of many creatures and birds in the current ongoing heatwave.
I am sure we will have lots to learn and discover in the new place. It will be quite an adjustment but an interesting one!
Thanks for the good wishes, xxx
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January 20, 2023 at 5:24 am
I am sure your vervet neighbours will miss you as much as you will miss them, Carol.
All the best with the big move. I hope everything goes smoothly.
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January 20, 2023 at 8:19 pm
Thanks very much Dries. It is a big move!
Yes we will miss the monkeys and they will be surprised to see new people here, so I hope all goes well with that transition too.
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January 20, 2023 at 2:32 am
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and beautiful photographs, Carol. I hope many people who live near these monkeys will read it and follow your excellent guidelines about peacefully coexisting with them. And I hope that whoever will move into your house will follow your example and allow your troop of vervets to stay.
Best wishes for the move.
Tanja
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January 20, 2023 at 8:18 pm
Thank you Tanja. I wish more people were more open to being tolerant and understanding of wildlife, including vervets. They don’t spend a lot of time here, maybe visiting a few times a week. We are always pleased to see them peacefully going about their business or simply relaxing when they do visit.
Thanks very much for the good wishes. Best wishes from here to you.
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January 21, 2023 at 4:04 am
Thank you.
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January 20, 2023 at 12:46 am
I hope the new inhabitants of your house read this post, Carol. Your relationship and knowledge of vervets is worth passing on. Your photos are simply wonderful and reflect the ease at which they live in your garden. I will miss them, too!
Best wishes for a smooth transition!
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January 20, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Hi Eliza – thanks, I also hope that the vervets can continue to find some peace here. They don’t visit everyday and sometimes they just pass through, but it is lovely to see them spending relaxed time here when they do rest and forage here for a while. It is touching to know that you will miss the too.
Thanks very much for the good wishes.
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January 19, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Oh, Carol, thanks for making the time to write – and illustrate – this captivating account. You’re going to miss them, aren’t you? I hope the new residents of your home are as thoughtful and appreciative. And that you find equally charming animal neighbours at your new address.
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January 20, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Hi Margaret, yes we will miss them. One day I must write a tribute to a charismatic vervet who really captured our attention over several years. Tragically, last year he was killed by a car in our quiet cul de sac.
I also hope that the new people are understanding of the vervets.
It will be interesting to learn about the animal neighbours at the new place. So far I know for sure there are tortoises!
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January 21, 2023 at 7:52 am
Ah, we met wild tortoises in Greece on our Balkans journey last year. They were unaccountably winsome company. Here’s to further exciting discoveries!
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January 21, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Tortoises can be much more expressive than one might expect. It will be interesting to find out what other creatures are around at the new place.
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January 21, 2023 at 8:18 pm
We await your discoveries…
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January 21, 2023 at 8:24 pm
Me too – but first we have to get there! Cant wait for this stressful limbo time to be over.
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January 21, 2023 at 8:29 pm
It IS stressful, I know. But you’ve got quite a few of the difficult bits over, so let’s hope you have a fairly smooth ride.
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January 21, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Thanks so much Margaret.
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January 19, 2023 at 10:48 pm
A totally captivating article, and the photographs are simply wonderful. I wish more people could read this: your ideas about how to live WITH animals instead of just being annoyed (or killing them, if you are in the USA) are so important. I wish you could submit it to an ezine or magazine. (Like you don’t have enough on your plate right now ) ! 😉
Anyway, I say, “Vervets Forever”!
Wishing you well as your journey continues,
Best,
Julie
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January 20, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Hi Julie – thank you and yes I also wish that more people would be open to finding ways of living with animals rather than defaulting to finding their presence an impediment and an annoyance. It seems that humans are far less adaptable than many animals even though we are supposed to be more intelligent!
Thanks also for the good wishes, and best wishes to you from here.
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January 19, 2023 at 9:18 pm
While I am sure they can be a problem for humans and their animals but, as you said at the start, we are the interlopers. It is sad that many do not understand this and try to rid themselves of the wild animals that have dwelled in an area for centuries before we showed up. Understanding their behaviors as you have so well documented goes a long way in coexisting. It is the very few wild animals that are aggressive and the majority just want to live and let live.
This is a wonderful collection of photographs of the Vervets that you have collected, Carol. I hope the folks who move in to your old home are as understanding and agreeable toward the monkeys.
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January 20, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Thanks Steve. Yes vervets can be a problem if they are habituated and once they associate humans/homes with food. It is up to us to be responsible and respectful, but as you say many people are intolerant of wild animals and can’t be bothered to learn about them or understand how to try to coexist. Many people seem to place the onus on animals to be somehow understanding of our requirements!
I also hope that the people who move in here are understanding of the monkeys and the need to take certain measures to minimize the potential for problems. It is rewarding to foster a situation where mutual respect and peacefulness prevails.
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January 19, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Your post is very interesting, Carol, and your photos of the vervets are excellent and charming. Are there vervets in your new location? Wishing you the best of luck and much happiness in your new home. Looking forward to your posts after you settle in. 😀
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January 20, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Thanks very much Jane. As far as I know vervets do not occur in the area we will be in. I have only heard of baboons occurring in nearby mountains and a patch of indigenous forest, but I don’t know if they come down into the village. But we will be finding out in due course …
Thanks so much for the good wishes and I hope to be able to post sometime next month and also be able to spend more time at WordPress!
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