Monkeys Invade the Capital| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan, (Sudanow) – Nile Street in Khartoum has always been a key indicator of the state's overall recovery, and particularly of its political, economic, and administrative standing. This is due to its location along the River Nile and the green spaces that adorn government, commercial, and even academic institutions like the University of Khartoum. Furthermore, the street's proximity to the acacia forest on the banks of the White Nile makes it a natural extension of the forest. Therefore, it was not unusual to see a monkey climb a tree and vanish in the blink of an eye.

However, today, every visitor will be astonished by the sheer number of monkeys roaming freely, in groups or individually, from the Shambat neighborhood in Khartoum North, through Nile Street, and even into the upscale Garden City district in the heart of Khartoum.

To understand the reasons behind this widespread and alarming proliferation of monkeys, we conducted this interview with Dr. Reem Rabie Mohamed Saleh, a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Khartoum. She explained that there is no specific source detailing when their migration to these areas began, but their presence is likely linked to geographical location: proximity to water, the presence of trees and shade, and proximity to humans or waste that provides food.

She added that over time, with the expansion of construction and the conversion of green spaces into residential and commercial areas, monkeys have become more prevalent in neighborhoods like Garden City and Nile Street. This is especially true since these areas became depopulated during the war, allowing the monkeys freedom of movement and reproduction in the absence of natural threats or competitors for the past two and a half years.

She also clarified that these monkeys most likely belong to the Griffin species, which is widespread in Sudan and lives in savannah areas near water sources. They are also capable of adapting to changing environments. There is also another species known as the Patas Nile Blue, a distinctive species found in the Blue Nile Valley of Sudan and Ethiopia. Based on this information, it is likely that the monkeys found in neighborhoods and on campus belong to one of these two species, but there is no detailed scientific confirmation yet.

As for the reasons for the rapid spread, Dr. Reem identified three main factors.

First, the loss of natural habitats due to urban expansion without providing alternatives.

Second, the easy availability of food from food scraps in garbage and the presence of fruit trees such as mango and date palms.

Third, the scarcity of natural predators and environmental changes, which facilitated the monkeys' migration to urban areas.

Dr. Reem Rabie also warned that this spread poses a real danger, not only in the long term but even in the present, due to the aggressive nature of some monkeys and their habit of entering homes and kitchens in search of food, which could lead to the transmission of diseases and parasites to humans, especially through direct contact or via feces.

She emphasized that monkeys possess considerable physical strength, enabling them to break windows and damage property, causing financial losses and increasing disturbance and noise. Despite this, she affirmed that monkeys do not currently pose an existential threat to humans, but urged the relevant authorities to exercise caution.

The lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, pointed out that the destruction wrought by the disbanded Rapid Support Forces militias in Khartoum State, particularly to infrastructure, exacerbated the problem. These conditions drove monkeys to migrate to deserted or less monitored areas, as happened at the University of Khartoum, where animals were evacuated due to the fighting, further contributing to the spread of the phenomenon.

In conclusion, Dr. Reem Rabie recommended following international best practices for dealing with monkeys, most importantly reporting sightings to wildlife authorities. She also advised securing windows and sealing any openings through which monkeys might enter, not feeding monkeys or treating them as pets, not leaving food uncovered, and designing garbage containers in a way that prevents monkeys from accessing them.

The proliferation of monkeys in the heart of Khartoum is no longer a mere curiosity; it has become a genuine environmental and health challenge demanding urgent intervention from the relevant authorities. While this phenomenon reveals the fragility of the ecosystem in the context of war, it also places upon us a collective responsibility to protect both humans and animals through sound urban planning, the activation of environmental monitoring mechanisms, and community awareness campaigns promoting safe coexistence with wildlife.

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