Threats

Despite being categorized by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as of Least Concern, from a conservation perspective, vervet populations are declining due to a number of threats:

Captivity: For research and as pets

Wild vervets are trapped and taken for medical research in laboratories. They are also kept as exotic pets. In fact, when vervets are killed for bushmeat, their orphaned infants are often captured for the illegal exotic pet trade. However, vervets are wholly unsuited to a captive lifestyle (link to PDF 1). Born Free works in Zambia, Malawi, and Ethiopia to help rescue vervets from captive exploitation, rehabilitate them, and return them to the wild whenever possible. And, at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, we provide a safe, permanent home to formerly captive vervets and other primates.

Born Free also advocates for legislation to protect vervets from harm, including the Captive Primate Safety Act and the Sanctuary Regulatory Fairness Act (the latter of which we assisted in drafting). Unfortunately, neither bill is currently active in Congress.

Hunting

Vervets frequently come into conflict with humans. They are considered vermin due to their affinity for stealing food and raiding crops, and are therefore often shot, poisoned, or trapped. Additionally, vervets are killed for bushmeat in some areas.

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Born Free USA's Primate Sanctuary

At our primate sanctuary – one of the largest in the United States – our mission is to provide monkeys as high a quality of life as we can. The 175-acre sanctuary, located in south Texas, provides a safe, permanent home to hundreds of monkeys, many rescued from abuse in roadside zoos or as pets in private homes or retired from animal experimentation.

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Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN 94-6187633.