Vervets besiege women and children in Kenya

Vervet Monkey, originally uploaded by Rivertay.

Vervet monkeys are selectively targeting women and children in a Kenyan village. [BBC]

Comments

[togolosh]

The monkey squad are not very good at scaring away the monkeys

Perhaps they could get a job in the Bush administration.

[swampcracker]

In addition to stealing their crops, the monkeys also make sexually explicit gestures at the women, they claim. "The monkeys grab their breasts, and gesture at us while pointing at their private parts. We are afraid that they will sexually harass us," said Mrs Njeri.

Remind you of anything, fellow bloggers?

[cfrost]

Looks like they could use a few leopards in the neighborhood.

Swampcracker, I hope you're not calling the Governor of the Golden State a monkey.

[rob helpy-chalk]

I'm normally an animal rights person, but this looks like a case of justifiable monkeycide.

[togolosh]

Monkey squad. Monkey squad Monkey squad Monkey squad.

Monkey squad.

[swampcracker]

cfrost: Who, me? No, I'd never call the Governator of the Golden State a mongoose.
Rob: Before we condemn them, I think vervets deserve a fair trial in kangeroo court just like everyone else.

[Cass]

Well, let's just hope this isn't the next species to evolve into self-conciousness after we're gone.

[swampcracker]

Cass, I'd say they already have a head start on us by some 10 million years.

[togolosh]

I've actually had a minor skirmish with vervets before. I was camping in Zimbabwe and the little bastards were everywhere - they knew all about campers and their secret stashes of yummy things. They are fast, nimble and clever. The whole day was spent in defense of our food against the monkeys, who watched closely from a safe distance. The only thing they managed to get was one of my quinine tablets. One of them scampered up and snatched it off the picnic table while I was looking for water to wash it down with. The little bastard ran off to a safe distance, turned, looked me in the eye, and smirked as he put the tablet in his mouth. He immediately spat it out and furiously tried to wipe the foul taste off his tongue with his hands. I laughed my ass off as he cursed at me in vervish.

They are smart little guys, and I find it quite plausible that they would taunt people trying to scare them off. I'd hate to have to live near them, but in a way I'm kind of proud to be their relative. Bastards.

[Julian Elson]

If these assholes are smart and sophisticated enough to use these thuggish, discriminatory psychological warfare and intimidation techniques, perhaps they're smart and sophisticated enough to be morally culpable for their actions? Just a thought -- after all, it has to start somewhere.

[Dock Miles]

I think I'm sophisticated
'cos I'm living my life like a good homo sapien
But all around me everybody's multiplying
Till they're walking round like flies man
So I'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages
In the zoo man
cos compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an ape man
I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
cos I'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man
I'm an ape man I'm a king kong man I'm ape ape man
I'm an ape man
'cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies
I am an ape man
In mans evolution he has created the cities and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And Id be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle
cos the only time that I feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man
I'm an ape, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
I look out my window, but I cant see the sky
cos the air pollution is fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an ape man
Come and love me, be my ape man girl
And we will be so happy in my ape man world
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
Ill be your tarzan, you'll be my jane
Ill keep you warm and you'll keep me sane
And well sit in the trees and eat bananas all day
Just like an ape man
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man.
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an ape man.

[aeroman]

The vervets have a plan to win the war. But can they win the peace?