particularly selected the area around our house for their family fun
day and picnic!
Most days we will see some monkeys and some days we see the baboons as
well.
But yesterday they were persistently trying to raid our garbage bin,
scouring the plants around for any small shoot that had managed to
emerge since their last 'harvesting' visit, and making sure to get a
drink while they were about it.
The water crisis is worsening here - after a pretty dry 'wet season'
last summer and a very dry dusty winter, we are desperate for the
'early rains' but they don't normally come until September/October -
and the animals are really feeling it too.
But apart from trying to prevent our garbage from being strewn all
over, we do enjoy their visits as we watch their antics.....
It started early today, as my husband got out of bed, stood up and
looked out the window to see the term "head over heels in love" take
on a whole new meaning! He stood and watched two monkeys following the
Creator's directions to do what is needed to 'multiply according to
their kind' under the trees outside our bedroom window....but
then...they lost their balance! and while still very much 'together'
went tumbling down the hill!!!! Mrs Monkey wasn't so impressed and
gave her suitor an angry bite, so he ran off and left her to sit and
ponder her unexpected situation!
After the baboons made several attempts during the morning to get into
our garbage bin and would not be deterred, we moved it closer to the
back door so we could see it and if necessary make a big noise to
scare them off. But it also gave us extra opportunity to watch the
monkeys later on when they also tried to get into it - pulling,
tugging, stretching the luggage strap across the top trying to find a
way to gain entrance....but thankfully unsuccessful in their attempts.
The babies are starting to grow up now and are no longer constantly
close to mum. In fact the youngsters seem to often be together
playing. Today 4 youngsters were playing 'chase' up and down our back
driveway and round and round and round our car!
But sometimes a monkey needs a rest too! A couple of days back my
husband saw one sitting on one of our porch chairs like it was his own
personal seat to relax on!
Well of course all that exercise means that even if you are a monkey,
you get thirsty! Often the baboons and monkeys would come down to our
swimming pool to drink. But then we noticed that the babies couldn't
reach the water, so we put some water in a special 'tub' by one of the
outdoor taps in the open area beside the house. Yesterday, there was
a steady stream of them heading toward the tub to get their drink on
their way back up the hill, at the end of their 'family fun day'.
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