South African park officials may euthanize aggressive monkeys

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The warning signs are everywhere at South Africa's famed Kruger National Park: DO NOT FEED THE MONKEYS.

"Remember that by feeding them, you are signing their death warrant, as they become aggressive and may have to be destroyed," a notice on the park website explains.

But such warnings go ignored by badly behaved tourists visiting the Kruger.

This correspondent has often seen visitors tossing scraps to the vervet monkeys and baboons that hang around picnic spots and rest camps within the park (and has bossily intervened to stop the impromptu snack time).

Some monkeys at the park have indeed become aggressive, stealing food off plates, out of vehicles and cabins, and even attacking and biting tourists. In one incident last month, a German tourist was reportedly badly bitten on the waist by a vervet monkey.

The problem has become so pervasive that, according to a report, Kruger park officials are carrying out studies to determine how best to stop the human-monkey conflict.

“It is an ongoing problem and stems from the fact that people feed the monkeys, even though the Kruger makes it very clear that feeding of animals is prohibited," Isaac Phaahla, a park spokesman, told African Eye News Service.

"The monkeys become accustomed to getting food and when they don’t they become aggressive," he said.

Phaahla said that park officials are investigating the possibility of capturing specific "problem animals" and euthanizing them.

But selective euthanizing won't stop the problem if tourists keep feeding those cute little monkeys.