Behind the Scenes 🐒
It’s been a busy few weeks here at the sanctuary, with lots of highs, some difficult moments and plenty happening behind the scenes.
We had the best day releasing Maddie into Skrow troop on Wednesday 🥹 She’s still being closely monitored, but so far she’s doing super well and it’s amazing to see her finally getting to enjoy troop life!
Ojalá was also released back into the wild after a month long rehabilitation, which was such an exciting moment for everyone involved in her care. 💛
The very next day, we took in a little rescue who appeared to have suffered a dog attack. Sadly, despite everyone’s efforts, he didn’t make it through the night. These are never easy moments for the team but we’re grateful we were able to give him care and keep him comfortable when he needed it the most 🤍
We’ve also had multiple vet appointments recently, with Rexie having his vasectomy, Yma going in for a fractured jaw and James going in for a chest X-ray. Sadly, James didn’t wake up from sedation, and it was discovered that he had been suffering from a chronic lung condition 💔
With the temperatures dropping, we currently have some of our older monkeys in Sickbay receiving a little extra care and keeping a closer eye on them as we head into colder nights.
Behind the scenes, work on Dreamland and Lankora continues too, with Dreamland now nearly ready for the epoxy floors to be put down! We’ve also been able to refresh a few areas around the sanctuary recently, including Groomingdales, which had a deep clean and new sand put in.
There’s always so much happening here that you don’t always get to see, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helps make all of this possible💛
Friday Favourites ⭐️ Groomingdales
This week’s Friday Favourite is a very special one - Adam and three very special monkeys: Floki, Cuddy & Rexie 💛
Adam & Doug have been a huge part of the VMF family, helping to name monkeys, shelters, cabins and enclosures, including Groomingdales and, more recently, Lankora & Dreamland.
Groomingdales was created as a safe haven for Cuddy & Floki, two monkeys with very difficult beginnings. Previous Baby Mum Ellie wanted to help so much that she cut off her long locks of hair to help fundraise for a special place for them ❤️
Cuddy arrived in 2013 after being hit by a car, with a fractured skull, brain damage and in very poor condition. After a long recovery, she still spent time in sickbay especially in winter as she struggled to regulate her body temperature ❤️🩹
Floki was rescued after being found tied up on the side of the road, with his legs tied together so he couldn’t run away. His recovery included multiple surgeries, acupuncture and physiotherapy.
Then came Rexie who joined the pair later. With a broken neck and jaw, he needed a neck brace and a very long recovery. We didn’t know if he would ever walk again, but today he is constantly on the move, climbing in his own wonderfully wobbly way!
Recently, Groomingdales had a refresh too. Cuddy & Floki had baths, medical checks and vitamin injections, while Rexie had his vasectomy and did amazingly well. Whilst they were all in Sickbay, the team gave Groomingdales a big clean and freshened up the soil.
A huge thank you to Doug & Adam, and to everyone else who has supported VMF and helped create a better future for so many orphaned, injured and vulnerable vervets. We are so grateful for every single one of you 🫶
The Moment We’ve Been Waiting For 🥹
Yesterday, something incredible happened. Maddie, an orphaned vervet monkey who has been in our care since January and has struggled with multiple health complexities, significant weight loss and some really scary moments, was finally released into Skrow troop.
Alongside foster mum Kate, Maddie has been loving troop life so far. Playing with Mae, Kris & Shelby, being groomed by Judi-Bee, Sachi and more, as well as getting love from all the troop. 🫶
This is the moment we have spent nearly 8 months dreaming of. That Maddie could be surrounded by a troop again, by a group of monkeys who all have similar backgrounds and who, just like her, have been given a second chance.
After everything she has been through, seeing Maddie playing, climbing trees and just being a monkey again is something we will never take for granted 💚🐵
Cuddy reminding you to eat all of your veggies today 🥒🌽🥕🥗🍠🥬
Who’s this fluffy, healthy, strong girlie? 🥹👑🐵
The difference between these two photos is less than 4 months.
It honestly doesn’t seem that long ago that, as a team, we were so worried about Maddie and fearing the worst. We tried one final change in treatment, after exhausting all other options, and thankfully it was exactly what she needed. ❤️🩹
Since then, Maddie has gone from strength to strength. She’s gaining weight, getting stronger and showing us more and more of her cheeky little personality every day. 🐒
We are SO proud of this girl. After everything she’s been through, seeing her looking this healthy and fluffy is something we honestly weren’t sure we’d get to see.
Go Maddie! 🥹✨
Rescue, Rehabilitate & Release 💚🐒
After wound cleans, antibiotics and health assessments, Ojalá was finally cleared to go home 🎉
After everything she had been through, seeing her return to the wild is such an exciting and emotional moment - especially for the team who cared for her throughout her recovery.
Ojalá, we’re so happy to see you back where you belong 🌿🐒
Friday Favourites ⭐️ Sal
This week’s Friday Favourite has been chosen by Amélie, one of our amazing volunteers, who spent three months at the sanctuary earlier this year caring for Sal during one of the most difficult times of his journey 🫶
When Sal arrived at VMF in January, he was tiny, underweight and struggling to get stronger. He needed special care, antibiotics, nebulising and around-the-clock support to give him the best chance of survival.
During her time volunteering, Amélie watched Sal overcome hurdle after hurdle. She saw the tiny, scared baby who needed so much care slowly become the cheeky, determined little monkey we see today. Seeing him now, healthy, confident and thriving alongside Uh-Oh and his new friends in the Gismo troop, is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do.
“Whenever I’m having a bad day, I think about Sal and remember that he made it. I’ll always be proud of my little fighter.” ❤️
From our staff and volunteers to everyone who supports VMF, every person plays a part in helping these monkeys reach the future they deserve. Thank you to everyone who has been part of Sal’s journey, and so many others like him, every feed, every moment of care and every bit of hope helps all of our monkeys get to where they are today.
Volunteering at VMF is about so much more than helping with the daily care. It’s about building relationships, creating memories and forming bonds that stay with you long after you leave.
Are you seeking connection? A chance to make a difference and become part of something special? Sometimes, while we help change a life, that life changes us too.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering at VMF, get in touch today by emailing info@vervet.za.org 💛
Creating Second Chances 🌟
Every orphan that arrives at the Vervet Monkey Foundation has their own story. Some come to us injured, others are critically ill. All have lost their mums and need around-the-clock care just to survive.
Every one of them deserves the chance to heal and, one day, become part of a troop filled with other monkeys just like them.
That’s why we’re building Dreamland.
Dreamland will be a dedicated special care unit, designed to give our most vulnerable monkeys the calm, safe environment they need during the most critical stage of their rehabilitation. It will help our team provide the highest level of care, giving each monkey the best possible opportunity to recover and, when they’re ready, take the next step towards life with a foster mum and eventually their monkey family.
We’re so close to the finish line, but we still need your help to complete Dreamland. Thank you for all the donations so far, we are so truly grateful 💚
If you can, please donate via https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=T89C84B4ZFKCU or our Instagram fundraiser. Together, we can help create second chances for orphaned, injured and vulnerable monkeys for years to come 🫶
