The release of a troop of rehabilitated vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: outcomes and assessment

Published source details Guy A.J., Stone O.M.L. & Curnoe D. (2011) The release of a troop of rehabilitated vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: outcomes and assessment. Folia Primatologica, 82, 308-320.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide supplementary food for a certain period of time only Action Link
	Allow primates to adapt to local habitat conditions for some time before introduction to the wild Action Link
	Conduct veterinary screens of animals before reintroducing/translocating them Action Link
	Reintroduce primates in groups Action Link

Provide supplementary food for a certain period of time only

A study in 2007-2010 in subtropical forest-shrubland mosaic in Mondi forests, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa found that only a small portion of the 31 rehabilitated and reintroduced vervet monkeys Chlorocebus aethiops that were provided with supplementary food along with other interventions, survived for at least 12 months. Twelve months post-release, ten individuals (32%) had survived and 20 (65%) disappeared. One individual was euthanized three days after release after raiding houses and acting aggressively towards people. Supplementary food was given twice a day for 19 days, subsequently decreasing over eight weeks. The release group included both wild captured (due to injury) (61%) and hand-raised orphaned (39%) monkeys. Monkeys underwent veterinary screens, were held in an enclosure at the release site to adapt to local habitat conditions, and were released as a group. Eleven individuals were fitted with radio-collars.. The study does not distinguish between the effects of the different interventions mentioned above.
Allow primates to adapt to local habitat conditions for some time before introduction to the wild

A study in 2007-2010 in subtropical forest-shrubland mosaic in Mondi Forestry, South Africa found that a small number of the 31 rehabilitated and reintroduced vervet monkeys Chlorocebus aethiops that were allowed to adapt to the release site in enclosures along with other interventions, survived for at least 12 months. After 12 months of post-release monitoring, ten (32%) individuals had survived and 20 (65%) could not be tracked. One (3%) individual was euthanized three days post-release after raiding houses and acting aggressively towards people. Vervets were held in a 55 m2 and 2 m-high enclosure at the release site for four days before release. The release group included both wild captured- (61%) (due to injury) and hand-raised orphaned (39%) monkeys. Monkeys underwent veterinary screens, were released as a group and supplemented with food for eight weeks. Eleven individuals were fitted with radio collars that worked circa nine months after release. The study does not distinguish between the effects of the different interventions mentioned above.
Conduct veterinary screens of animals before reintroducing/translocating them

A study in 2007-2010 in forest-shrubland mosaic within the Mondi forestry in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa found that only a small portion of the 31 rehabilitated and reintroduced vervet monkeys Chlorocebus aethiops that underwent veterinary screens alongside other interventions, survived for at least one year. One year post-release, ten (32%) individuals had survived and 20 (65%) could not be tracked. One individual was euthanized three days after release after raiding houses and acting aggressively towards people. Veterinary screens included physical examination to determine health condition. The release group included both wild captured (61%) (due to injury) and hand-raised orphaned (39%) vervets. They were held in an enclosure at the release site to adapt to local habitat, released as a group, and supplemented with food for eight weeks. Eleven individuals were fitted with radio-collars that worked nine months after release. The study does not distinguish between the effects of the different interventions mentioned above.
Reintroduce primates in groups

A study in 2007-2010 in subtropical forest-shrubland mosaic in Mondi forestry, South Africa found that one third of the 31 rehabilitated vervet monkeys Chlorocebus aethiops that were reintroduced as a group alongside other interventions, survived over 12 months. One year post-release, ten (32%) individuals had survived and 20 (65%) vervets could not be tracked. One individual was euthanized three days post-release after raiding houses and acting aggressively towards people. One week post-release, the group split into two groups. The release group included both wild captured- (61%) (due to injury) and hand-raised orphaned (39%) monkeys. Monkeys underwent veterinary screens, were held in an enclosure to adapt to local habitat, and were supplemented with food for eight weeks. Eleven individuals were fitted with radio-collars. The study does not distinguish between the effects of the different interventions mentioned above.