Talk:Vervet Monkey Foundation

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In order to address some negative edits about the Foundation recently posted here, I would like to submit the following response:

We don't encourage human interaction, but only provide it when the lack thereof would present adverse effects to the health of the monkey(s), such as orphaned babies that can't be effectively introduced to a capable surrogate mother, or former pets who are psychologically reliant on it; the long-term goal is to have as few humanised monkeys on the foundation as possible.

The VMF employs over a dozen local workers, paying them competitive wages, and is also a significant part of the local economy.

Volunteers coming in contact with monkeys are trained to do so responsibly, and to do so while maintaining appropriate hygiene and disease control protocols (bathe and change after contact and in between enclosures, bleach foot-baths, face masks and gloves for quarantine, etc.

As a member of PASA and as a rescue centre for a non-endangered species, we are obliged to ensure that our animals do not breed. We have taken volunteer vets from all over the world - Italy, Cameroon, Spain, England, Scotland, working on vasectomising all viable males on the foundation. This is seen as the most humane and ethical way of eliminating the possibility of breeding amongst vervet monkeys. As younger males (eg rescued orphans) approach breeding age, we are also vasectomising them. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Trunkmusic (talk • contribs) 19:07, 21 January 2011 (UTC)