Target: Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng, South Africa
Goal: Enforce permit rules and penalize unlawful keeping of wild animals after a baby monkey reportedly arrived severely malnourished with a lung infection and a fractured skull.
Residents found a baby monkey and, with kind intent, tried home rehab. Painful facts surfaced after transfer for proper care. Vets reportedly documented severe malnourishment, stunted growth, poor muscle tone, a lung infection, and a fractured skull. Staff described clear distress. Compassion started this story, yet untrained handling can compound suffering fast.
Untamed animals carry complex needs. Permits exist for reasons that protect people and wildlife. Keeping a wild infant in a house can mask hidden trauma while delaying urgent treatment. Feeding plans, hygiene, and species-specific protocols require licensed teams. Without these, small bodies fail. Community helpers need a simple path for quick surrender, not guesswork.
Strong, humane policy prevents repeats. Provincial authorities should bolster permit enforcement and issue fines where laws are broken. Hotlines must triage calls fast. Transport support should move animals within hours. Outreach should teach neighbors how and when to act. This petition asks for funded transfers, routine inspections at known hotspots, visible penalties for unlawful possession, and an ongoing campaign that steers wildlife straight to licensed care.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear MEC Ramokgopa,
A baby monkey apparently reached licensed care in severe condition. Reports describe malnourishment, stunted growth, weak muscle development, a lung infection, and a fractured skull. Residents acted from compassion, yet home rehab delayed specialized treatment and deepened risk.
We urge firm, practical steps that help people do right by wild animals. Please strengthen enforcement of permit requirements with meaningful fines for unlawful possession, paired with rapid-response pathways that make surrender easy and quick. Fund transport support so injured wildlife reaches qualified hands within hours, not days.
We also request a province-wide education drive. Clear guidance can show residents when and how to call for help, why wild infants require licensed rehab, and what penalties follow when rules get ignored. Regular reporting on seizures, transfers, and outcomes will build trust while deterring harmful DIY attempts. Humane systems save lives. Swift action here can stop repeat harm across Gauteng.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Para
