Sint Maarten Going To Completely Eradicate Exotic Monkey Species, AAP Furious About ‘Unethical’ Plan | internal

In Sint Maarten, the government has approved a controversial plan to eradicate the entire population of vervets, a type of monkey. Non-native monkey species can cause significant inconvenience. The AAP is making an urgent appeal to Sint Maarten to refrain from doing so.

The Government of Sint Maarten has asked the Nature Foundation St. “When a species establishes itself in an area it is not native to, often there are no predators to control the population,” said Leslie Hickerson, director of the foundation. “Nature management is an important aspect of maintaining the health of the island for those who come after us.”

The plan was widely criticized. This is what sterilization and environmental management should look like, rather than such a drastic measure. Vervet, distinguished by its gray-brown body and black face with white fur, is native to southern and eastern Africa, but is also found in some Caribbean islands. The population in these places has grown to tens of thousands of monkeys.

Exotic pets

Monkeys were introduced to the area around the 17th century when European settlers supposedly brought them as exotic pets. Research conducted by Nature St Maarten in 2020 showed that there are around 450 vervet monkeys living on Sint Maarten.

In a recent study, the first numbers indicate a significant increase. “The number of monkeys on St Martin will continue to increase if measures are not taken, and the consequences for St Maarten’s indigenous ecosystems will be severe,” says Nature St Martin.


quotes

I think the best and most generally accepted method is male and female sterilization

Better options, powerful search

Farmers often complain about the monkeys because they “loot their crops and destroy their livelihoods,” according to the foundation. But according to Dave Du Toit, founder of the Vervet Monkey Foundation in South Africa, where the species is native, culling probably won’t work. He told the British newspaper, “I think that the best method and most acceptable to the public is the sterilization of males and females.” Watchman.

According to Du Toit, there are options for a more harmonious existence between the monkeys and the inhabitants of Sint Maarten: “This requires research into the availability of food for wild animals, but this does not happen.” According to him, it is also necessary to check the natural areas that can be used without being disturbed by animals.

Reaction AAP Foundation

The AAP Foundation is also calling for other solutions. The Foundation believes that euthanasia is a “last resort if the harm is unacceptable and all other approaches have failed”. But according to the organization, that is not the case now. Sint Maarten urgently appeals to refrain from killing monkeys. “These green meerkats were brought to St. Martin by people centuries ago. It is unethical to inject animals that have thrived there for centuries, because they are harassed by tourists and islanders,” the AAP Foundation says in a statement. The organization is offering its assistance and expertise to develop the sterilization project.

Orange even in the Caribbean

At the end of January, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Amalia will leave for the Caribbean Islands. For two weeks they will visit Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, as well as Sint Maarten. The history of slavery, local culture, and nature, among other things, are central to the visit. It was Princess Amalia’s first introduction to the islands.

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