Probe into monkeys on the loose in St James
THE ST James Health Department has launched an investigation into reported sightings of roaming monkeys.
Sherika Lewis, deputy chief public health inspector for St James, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that she had spoken to Mark McGann, councillor for the Somerton division, where the alleged sightings were reported.
Lewis said that McGann had shared that green monkeys had been seen in Maroon Town in the St James South division.
During the St James Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting last Thursday, McGann stated that reports have surfaced of monkeys and other exotic animals being spotted in sections of St James and St Elizabeth. He labelled them a potential health risk.
“There are reports of monkeys, snakes, and so on, that have been seen in different areas in the hills of St James and in St Elizabeth. We have been having reports of some of these animals that are not native to our country escaping and running among our wildlife; and also, there is fear of what new diseases and viruses they may bring,” said McGann.
Lewis said that inter-agency cooperation would be needed to keep in check any potential outbreak of zoonotic diseases such as leptospirosis and bird flu.
“If information is found that there are any new diseases, we have to educate the public and do a disease surveillance in the communities where any new virus is found to be in,” she said.
Concerns surrounding exotic animals came to the fore in the July 7 Supreme Court ruling that businessman Alexander Haber remove his collection of 20 macaws, four cockatoos, two Japanese fowls, and an African grey parrot from his Norbrook, St Andrew, home in a noise nuisance spat.
Under Section 13 of Jamaica’s Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act, no bird, insect, or reptile may be imported except in accordance with a licence granted by the director of Veterinary Services. Section 14 of the same act says that the minister of agriculture may make regulations restricting, regulating, or prohibiting the importation of animals or poultry, or of their carcasses, litter, dung, or other similar things.