Rowles believes that as there is no other certified monkey facility to house her animals, the city will put them down.
“If all the facilities like mine are shut, what will happen to all the other injured and abandoned monkeys? The public certainly won’t – and are not able to – care for them.”
Rowles has asked for a further extension to set up a facility elsewhere.
“My husband has approached our bank about making an offer for a property where we hope to set up the facility. It will take us months to have it ready,” Rowles said.
Her fondness for monkeys began about 15 years ago when her dogs mauled a monkey on her property. She soon started rescuing other injured and orphaned monkeys, working from her Umkomaas home, and through the “bush telegraph”, people got to know about her.
In 2006, she registered her facility as a not-for-profit organisation and her areas of operation stretched from Amanzimtoti to Hiberdene.
Her work entailed rescuing monkeys, giving them medical attention and releasing them to their troops once they were healed. She would send orphaned monkeys to rehabilitation facilities.
“I was also registered with Ezemvelo Wildlife as a satellite centre, caring for injured monkeys on my property in Umkomaas,” Rowles said.
However, since 2011, Rowles has handled rehabilitation of the monkeys herself because there were no more facilities available. She kept monkeys in need of rehabilitation out- doors, in special cages, and sick monkeys were kept indoors, in a sunny room.
“I applied for certification from Ezemvelo to do rehab work but the official in charge never certified my application and kept stalling the process.”
Rowles said a new Ezemvelo official was appointed in her area in 2014, and he rejected subsequent requests for a permit to operate her facility.
“A neighbour has been complaining about the monkeys on my property, so the city is taking action, I suspect.
“Yet the city has come to me to help with monkeys in the past.” said Rowles.
Ezemvelo spokesman Musa Mntambo confirmed receipt of Rowles application for a full rehabilitation centre and sanctuary for monkeys, but said it was refused because it did not comply with legislation.
She was then advised to apply for the renewal of her “satellite centre” with a small number of monkeys, or make an appeal to the MEC for environmental affairs. Mntambo said Rowles didn’t make the applications.
“She was economical with her claim that Ezemvelo officials did not process her application, because the result was not what she desired. The fate of the animals will still have to be decided according to the applicable law,” Mntambo said.
eThekwini Municipality spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa said Rowles defiance could lead to increased rates on her property and the matter would be sent to their enforcement section for legal prosecution.
Mthethwa said neighbour’s complaints included:
Not being able to open windows as monkeys invaded their space.
Monkey cages are placed on the neighbour’s doorway.
Smells from cages affected the complainant’s health.
Monkeys fought, which generated continuous noise.
Fears for children’s health..
