Renee Graham Renee Graham

ALMOST 50 STARVING, dehydrated monkeys were rescued from cages at a garden nursery north of Johannesburg yesterday.

Spider, capuchin and squirrel monkeys were among the 49 primates taken away by the International Primate Rescue organisation.

The monkeys had been kept in cages for the entertainment of people coming to buy plants at the Little Falls Garden Centre. Visitors notified the primate rescue group of the poor conditions.

Associated Press Associated Press

Some of animals were so malnourished that their heads were disproportionately large for their bodies and their bones were protruding from their fur. Many were suffering from rickets.

“This is clear animal cruelty, no monkey should have to live like this,” Sue Mousley, director of the primate rescue organisation told The Associated Press. She said the garden centre once had 96 monkeys, but many had died. Although her sanctuary already houses a large number of monkeys, she said she could not stand by while the monkeys at the nursery starved.

Renee Graham / AP Renee Graham / AP / AP

Some 20 veterinarian students worked as volunteers to help feed and move the monkeys.

The monkeys will be nursed back to health at a sanctuary north of Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, in the coming weeks. Mousely said three tortoises were also rescued and bird experts have been notified to investigate the conditions for birds at the garden centre.

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