Make Me a Monkey

Regarded by many as little more than vermin, vervet monkeys have been dying out for many years and their numbers in the wild have fallen dramatically. Although widespread throughout other parts of Africa, it is in South Africa where they are now listed as an endangered species. Thousands of vervet monkeys are trapped and sold every year to laboratories worldwide for medical research. Due to the misconception that they destroy fruit crops, vervet monkeys are systematically eradicated by farmers. Baby monkeys are also taken from the wild and kept as pets but are discarded when they become too big, boisterous and dangerous. This film shows what happens to discarded adult pet monkeys, injured monkeys, orphaned monkeys whose mothers may have been shot or monkeys that are left for dead. Along with tackling the real conservation issues, Make Me A Monkey is a very positive film which mixes adventure, fun and the great unknown. Looking at the great work involved in getting the monkeys back out into the wild, the film also illustrates how they are taught how to behave like real monkeys again. (jakelijan virallinen teksti)