Vervet Friends

There’s too much primate hate in Fisi camp. It’s true. Nearly every research assistant and member of the camp staff has a vendetta against primates. And yes, primates can be notorious pests. They routinely knock over our trash cans looking for free scraps, sending trash in every direction, and can wreak havoc on kitchen and food storage tents if left unattended. But most of these annoying acts are carried out by the local olive baboon troop. We think it’s due to their constant interaction with humans, but the Talek camp baboon troop is ridiculously bold and persistent and will not stop at anything until they get their hands on our Nairobi trash. So maybe there, a little bit of resentment is reserved. However, this resentment almost always spills over and ends up unrightfully (in my opinion) including the more even-tempered, curious, and frankly – cuter, distant relative of the baboon; the vervet monkey.

Female members of Talek camp's local baboon troop (top 2). Our lab tent trash can after Jasiri, one of the large males in the Talek camp troop, had managed to get his hands on it (bottom photo).  

 Talek camp is frequented regularly by vervets. They announce their arrival by racing across the top of the lab tent then curiously peering upside down over the edge of it at us as we work. After a clumsy tight-rope walk across the line that ties the tent to the nearest tree, the vervets are more than content to sit and watch us work for what can end up being hours. Sometimes the troop will split, and you can find some of them causing trouble at the kitchen tent by playing with plates and silverware or inspecting the trash for any fresh fruit scraps. But, unlike the baboons, vervet monkeys listen to you – most of the time – and after one well delivered lecture, will leave the plates and silverware alone.

While the baboons are omnipresent, the vervets come and go, sometimes leaving camp for months at a time before returning. Which to me, makes their reappearances so special. It’s always nice to wander through camp and see their tails drifting through the tree tops or to turn the corner and see a baby learning the ways of the world as he explores away from the safety of mother for the first time. For many people, their favorite think about camp life is being truly immersed in nature 24/7. And while it took me nearly 8 months to figure out what my favorite thing about this experience was, I think I have to agree with everyone else. Being totally immersed in nature, and living in a place where you can wake up, look through your tent window, and see a troop of vervet monkeys walk single file past you in the early morning light is truly wonderful.