Woman teases monkeys with a chocolate bar
"Mom, the monkey is eating my protein bar..."
In South Africa, our relationship with monkeys goes beyond spotting them in parks or natural reserves.
For many living in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg, Vervet monkeys have become something of an extended (if slightly chaotic) family.
Carol Ofori has often shared hilarious tales of these bold visitors sneaking into her home, even recalling sightings in Johannesburg.
Whether it’s a local suburb or a luxury hotel, no place is truly monkey-free. Who could forget the video of monkeys casually joining guests for lunch at The Oyster Box?
While some people (perhaps unwisely) offer them food, others are at their wits’ end with the crafty antics of these clever creatures.
Both the Simbithi Eco-Estate in Ballito and the Urban Vervet Project are urging the public not to feed monkeys, explaining that it disrupts their natural behaviour and encourages unwanted visits.
We came across a video of a woman shamelessly teasing a troop of monkeys gathered outside her door, clearly looking for a snack.
She held up a chocolate bar and pretended to offer it to them, letting them reach through the glass before pulling it away.
While she found it amusing, many viewers were less impressed, calling her actions mean-spirited. And we’d have to agree.
Monkeys may be mischievous, but they’re also clever and determined to get what they want.
Yes, they can be a menace – raiding your kitchen, snatching belongings, and causing property damage – but at the end of the day, they’re just trying to survive.
Interactions like this can encourage risky behaviour and teach them to lose their natural fear of humans, which often leads to more conflict.
Many people warned that her actions might attract a revenge plan from the monkeys, but she didn’t seem too bothered.
You can find the video here.
In another TikTok clip shared by Kiki, things took a hilarious turn when a cheeky monkey wandered into her home and made off with not one, but two of her cereal bars, which she jokingly called her “protein bars”.
Her reaction included a few choice words, so viewer discretion is advised due to strong language.
Video courtesy of TikTok.
@kikipieeeee17 He wanted a snack 😒
♬ original sound - Kiki
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Image courtesy of TikTok