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["carrie mclaren" <brooklynite282 AT gmail.com>]

 Monkey survives brutal arrow attack
http://www.kormorant.co.za/2008/02Feb/28Feb/Monkey.htm
28 February 2008

"How can someone be so cruel, so inhumane." "It's unbelievable.
Absolutely unacceptable. "I hope they track down the one responsible
and make him pay for his terrible deeds."

These were just some of the comments received from readers who heard
about the incident last week where a 'helpless' male vervet monkey was
shot twice with a hunting bow.

Kormorant was called to the scene in Elizabeth Street, Schoemansville
where Wollie, who is second in charge in his troop, was found. It was
shocking to see. Two arrows went right through his head and body.

A ranger from the Hartbeespoort Snake and Animal Park caught Wollie
and held him in a blanket. They transported him to the Hartbeespoort
Animal Clinic where Dr Christine Hahn, assisted by Sr Sunette
Griebenow started the procedure to remove the arrows, which entered
from his left side.

According to Dr Christine the one went through his skull and exited on
the right hand side of his jaw. The other one went in just behind his
shoulder-blade and exited through his shoulder (to the right).

Dr Christine said the second arrow was almost a mortal shot. If the
arrow went straight through his body it would have hit his heart. The
arrow went through his left lung.

Wollie was given an anaesthetic after which Dr Christine and her team
removed the arrows. Large pliers were used to cut the arrows and split
the solid arrowhead from the feathery part before they were pulled
from his body. The archer, which is believed to be a professional
hunter 'knew what he was doing' and luckily did not hit major
blood-vessels and Wollie did not suffer from any bleeding. He also did
not lose too much air or blood from the injured lung and did not need
any surgery.
Kormorant was allowed to capture the whole procedure on film and watch
the team at work. Wollie's wounds were thoroughly cleaned and
antibiotics injected into the wounds. Dr Christine turned him over to
attend to the wounds on the other side. The medicine had run straight
through to the other side. His wounds were stitched and he was
transported to the hospital section where his treatment with
antibiotics continued.

Wollie recuperated miraculously and received his last dosage of
antibiotics on Monday 25 February. He was discharged from the hospital
on Tuesday. Dr Christine fed Wollie a banana which he gulped before
Luela Mossom of the Vervet Monkey Foundation took him in her care and
released him in her garden where he and his fellow troop members often
gather.

Luella told Kormorant that they were offering a reward for the
successful prosecution of the culprit responsible for Wollie's ordeal.

The monkey was eager to take back his freedom and immediately leaped
forward when Luela opened the cage to set him free. He climbed the
nearest tree from where he once again overlooked the area he calls
home.

Luela took the opportunity to thank Dr Christine, Dr Ken Pettey and
everyone at the hospital for taking such good care of Wollie. She
added that Dr Christine was very generous and did not charge them any
professional fees. They also received a huge discount on his
medication.

"Thank you very, very much. it does not only come from the bottom of
our hearts but also on behalf of Wollie who cannot speak for himself,"
she said.

* Luella called us again yesterday and said that Wollie had re-joined
the troop who welcomed him with open arms and was doing very well.