monkey at st. nicolas beach

by **beverly** » 04 Jul 2008, 00:02

I am sure concerns may have been raised about the caged monkey in the restaurant on the beach already. Does anyone know the type of monkey and have any welfare organisations been involved?

by **Kon** » 04 Jul 2008, 01:19

Hi Beverly ,we saw the monkey on our visit in 06 but he seemed to be happy in and out of the cage ,one thing i noticed was he loves wasps.

I'm sure the owner looks after him well

,my concern would be a animal of any sort in a eating establishment

by **GrahamE** » 04 Jul 2008, 01:55

My partner was very concerned and gave it water, it seemed grateful.

by **muppet** » 04 Jul 2008, 11:49

It had a small swelling on its foot when we saw it and it was obvious that it was being troubled by it. It was constantly messing with it.
It is the one thing that would stop me re-visiting St Nicholas beach when I return to Symi, as it does upset me to see it.

by **Mille** » 04 Jul 2008, 11:52

I'll contact The Symi Animal Welfare and ask if anything can be done about the monkey.

by **maziemoo** » 04 Jul 2008, 12:43

I've done that also Mille

...awaiting a reply.

[quote="Mille"]

I'll contact The Symi Animal Welfare and ask if anything can be done about the monkey.

[/quote]

by **Mille** » 04 Jul 2008, 13:02

Also waiting for a reply

by **maziemoo** » 04 Jul 2008, 13:31

I've now had a reply from S.A.W. who have said that they are aware of the monkey in question and are confident that the animal is well cared and provided for.

The family who own it are apparently well known for their good care of their animals, having cared for many cats and dogs over the years and the children are particularly fond of their pets albiet to some of us maybe unusual to keep a monkey in such circumstances.

Knowing the people involved in the S.A.W. organisation, I'm confident in their ability to make such an assessment. No doubt Mille will confirm something similar when she gets a response.

by **Mille** » 04 Jul 2008, 14:23

Yes, got the same reply from SAW as Mazie did.

by **JuliaB** » 05 Jul 2008, 13:13

We also came across a monkey being kept as a pet on Symi at a house just below the Anastasia apartments up in Chorio. For days we were baffled by the raucous chattering we heard every evening until we spotted a teenage lad carrying the monkey. At the same house there was also an extremely large tortoise that ambled around the property.

by **Kojak** » 08 Jul 2008, 12:50

I don't think we were being conservative at all, I'd call it being realistic! Symi Animal Welfare are aware of the monkey and they are best placed to decide if action if needed. They are on the spot. Just what Monkey World in Devon can do about a monkey in Symi is debateable. Did Samantha "indicate her displeasure" to the owners when she was there? I wonder... It's no good shrieking on this page if you don't take action on the spot! Conditions for pets may not measure up to what we would expect in the UK but IT'S NOT THE UK! Be realistic folks!

by **SamanthaF** » 08 Jul 2008, 13:05

Kojak - yes I did indicate my displeasure.

Monkey World is the worlds biggest rescuer of said animals from these appalling conditions. I had no idea that S.A.W had primate specialists?

Finally - a monkey is not a "pet". Yes, the people may look after their cats and dogs, but in no way should a monkey be kept in a bird cage.

by **beverly** » 08 Jul 2008, 13:09

Monkey World is in Dorset and have rescued primates from all over the world

by **Joanie** » 08 Jul 2008, 13:30

Its so cruel to keep any animal in cages,its like being locked in a prison cell,but they've done nothing wrong

by **maziemoo** » 08 Jul 2008, 16:25

As I understand it the FAROS vet visit is scheduled for beginning August, perhaps if Monkey World or S.A.W. aren't perceived as having responded appropriately before then, FAROS may be able to suggest a suitable resolution to the problem.

by **Kojak** » 09 Jul 2008, 00:07

I agree that the monkey would be better off running in freedom in a troup of its own kind. but keeping a monkey in a cage is not illegal, here, or in Greece, although it may not be perceived as humane according to some.Neither is there any sign of deliberate cruelty to it. I can't see what good "Monkey World" can do by riding to the rescue, except to alienate the owner. Perhaps we should also mount a crusade to prevent donkeys carrying any loads at all on Symi. And while we're at it, let's stop SAW organising mass neutering on Symi - after all, we're preventing cats God given right to reproduce. Where does it stop? And where do foreign tourists stop when it comes to interfering in the lives of the population of another country? The Greeks don't believe in cremation of the dead. How would you like it if a Greek delegation came over and tried to interfere in the cremation of one of your loved ones? - same principle after all...

by **beverly** » 09 Jul 2008, 08:13

Your diatribe does you no favours - the essence of this is that some people accept situations and others prefer to act. We all have choices (or not in the case of the monkey)

by **Kojak** » 09 Jul 2008, 10:23

Beverly, I'm simply stating that we should remember that Symi doesn't belong to us, we are merely visitors and we shouldn't impose our standards on it. We may not agree with the way some things are done there but there's a fine line which we shouldn't cross. Symi Animal Welfare are based on the island and I'd suggest that they are best placed to decide if any action is needed. And by the way - I am an animal lover!

by **benedetti** » 09 Jul 2008, 17:57

[quote="beverly"]

Monkey World is in Dorset and have rescued primates from all over the world
[/quote]
Perhaps they would be useful to Amnesty International. Why get your panties in a twist?

by **SamanthaF** » 09 Jul 2008, 23:50

Kojak - you really can make yourself look like a d*ck sometimes.

So SAW is a Greek organisation is it? Run by Greeks? (BTW, I actually think that SAW is a great organisation.) But to be honest and plain, SAW is run by a bunch of ex-pats, a Brit vet pops over occasionally and it's funded by tourists - is that not interference?

To be concerned about animals globally is a legitimate right of all of us. Are bear bile farms acceptable because they are in China? No they are bloody not! Equally, a Capucine monkey is not, and should not be a pet, regardless o where it is in the world.

The good that Monkey World can do is to rescue it and get it out of the hell hole cage it is living in.

Feel free to crawl back under your rock now.

EDIT TO ADD - As MM suggested upthread, it's great that FAROS is arranging a Greek vet to come to the island soon, perhaps they can look into it.

Who is online