Hendry died because of human negligence
He will never know what it is like to be a normal Macaque monkey
After years of trying to persuade the owners of the West Rand Pet and Bird farm to release Hendry, a Macaque monkey, into the care of the Roodepoort SPCA, he has died.
According to Mandy Cattanach, the SPCA has been trying for years to persuade the various owners of the Pet and Bird Farm to release the many animals into the SPCA’s care. “The animals get the basic requirements such as food, water and shelter, which prevents the SPCA from prosecuting the owners,” Mandy said. She added that by because the animals are confined in cages all their lives, they need environmental enrichment to keep them stress-free and sane. “None of these animals get the enrichment they need or deserve. A dead branch, an old tyre and a green pond is a far cry from what they need to be stimulated and happy.”
Mandy said the SPCA’s aim is, and always has been, to place the animals in an environment where they can express their natural behaviour and be with their own kind.
“Two animals that we know of have died of unnatural causes. An owl, that was closed up in a room and never allowed out to stretch his wings and fly, has died after being treated for a disease, we were told,” Mandy said.
Hendry was signed over to the Roodepoort SPCA too late to be saved. He was suffering from severe pneumonia. He had lost a lot of weight and was not strong enough to fight off the disease. “It was decided to put an end to his suffering. While we were euthanasing him, we were able to show him the softer side of people. We held his ice-cold hand and gently stroked his fur, and before he passed on he gave a soft chirp. He will never know what it is like to be a normal Macaque monkey, to behave like one, and enjoy life. The saddest part is that he never experienced the companionship of his own kind.”
Mandy said that Snowy, the arctic fox, is the only exotic animal to be released into the care of the Roodepoort SPCA. He is now living a life of luxury and is as happy as an Arctic fox in snow.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
