Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 08, 2014 (SKNIS): Farmers and householders in St. Kitts and Nevis, are about to breathe a sigh of relief as the Department of Constituency Empowerment and the Department of Agriculture implement a project to capture monkeys.
Director of Constituency Empowerment, Dr. Joyelle Clarke explained what the project entails.
“The Monkey Capturing Project is a wide scale project, headed by a veteran monkey trapper, Gilbert Gordon with the assistance of two apprentices,” she explained “It is intended to form a buffer zone that attracts monkeys therefore diverting the primates away from crop farms.”
Gilbert Gordon gave insight as to why the need for trapping monkeys was necessary.
“The idea came about because monkeys are beginning to create hazards as they intrude on the local food supply therefore affecting livelihoods including stealing small animals and crop farms,” he stated. “This project simply is about the survival of man and the monkey population has to be controlled.”
According to Dr. Clarke, the Monkey Capturing Project began two months ago. She said there are two farms to supplement it, including a livestock farm and a crop farm where the intension is to plant bananas, sweet potato, peanuts and other small crops.
After the monkeys are captured, they will be handed over to researchers.
The project is supported by and falls under the umbrella of the Department of Constituency Empowerment and the Department of Agriculture. To further the development of the project, Gordon will enlist monetary assistance from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program.
Other community groups who are promoting sustainable livelihoods are encouraged to visit the Department.