Max the monkey

· by · in animals, Children, expat, Ghana, new home, pets. ·

Max

We’ve got a new pet!

Crazy right?

He was our best kept secret…since we arrived back in Ghana we’ve told the kids there was a surprise coming.

And coming and coming…these things can take a while.

It nearly drove them bonkers not being able to guess. But when Max finally arrived, well, it was a such a surprise, that they were literally speechless. Have a look at those faces…

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He is super cute, with his tiny old man’s face and hands. We’ve been spending the last few days very happily watching his antics, and gaining his trust. He is the sweetest time sump ever.

Little monkey brother

Jock finally has the little brother he has always wanted.

At present we have him on a light lead (so we can control him) and he is living on our enclosed verandah. The kids take him out each day and let him climb around in the trees and grass. We think he is a patas monkey, which are ground dwellers. He has clearly been hand reared, as we are able to pat him (but not pick him up yet), and he is very sociable, always wanting to be around us. As I write this, he is sitting on the top of the sofa, munching on a carrot; if we leave the room, he follows us.

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I know there are a lot of moral concerns, which I share, about keeping a wild animal as a pet. And I am sure we will cross some challenging bridges as Max grows up. I know it’s easy to love a baby animal, and the road gets harder as they get older, and bigger and stronger.

But if we’re going to live in Africa, why not?

[I can hear the collective groan from everyone who has grown up around wild monkeys.]

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18 responses to “Max the monkey”

  1. Max looks like a great addition to the family and yes, you are in Africa so why not? I imagine the stories of having a monkey as a pet will continue on in your family for decades to come and what a cool experience for the kids!

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  2. Hello,

    Good evening from Aberdeen, Scotland.

    That is a cute one you have there.

    We did have a monkey as a pet whilst growing up in Accra some years back in the 70’s and early 80’s. I think we got it from Bole, which is further up north in Ghana from where you live. I think you can forget about the moral issues for now and even into the future. They grow very accustomed to human beings and form a stronger partnerships with human beings than dogs. They can be slightly a bit annoying when they decide to have fun in their own way. Your only problem will be when you decide to part company with it whenever you decide to move back to Australia.That is always a very difficult one, trust me it is.

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    • Hi Felix, Thanks for your comment and great to hear you had some fun with your monkey too, and he was part of your family. He is very funny, and very fast! I think he came from northern Ghana too. The kids are loving him, and I know what you mean about parting company, when we left Australia, we had to give our two dogs away to friends, and it was definitely the hardest part of moving away. Regards, Chrissie

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  3. Hello,
    Good evening from Aberdeen, Scotland.That is a cute one you have there.We did have a monkey as a pet whilst growing up in Accra some years back in the 70$B!l(Bs and early 80$B!l(Bs. I think we got it from Bole, which is further up north in Ghana from where you live. I think you can forget about the moral issues for now and even into the future. They grow very accustomed to human beings and form a stronger partnerships with human beings than dogs. They can be slightly a bit annoying when they decide to have fun in their own way. Your only problem will be when you decide to part company with it whenever you decide to move back to Australia.That is always a very difficult one, trust me it is.
    Felix
    Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:40:58 +0000
    To: felixmmensah@hotmail.com

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  4. Yes, I was one of the people who voted that I wanted a monkey as a pet when growing up. I always envisioned having a baby chimp who would wear diapers and would be my “baby”. Loads better than a doll! Your new little boy looks so adorable, I am so jealous!

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    • Thanks for your comment, Max is hilarious and the kids are really loving having him. We keep saying to each other, ‘I can’t believe we have a monkey!!’. Stuff of childhood dreams indeed.

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  5. please watch your children.we already run an animal sanctuary for 10 years. me and my wife bin bitten serval times by monkeys.on the moment we have 3 patas monkey’s.your specious. don’t forget that they have 4 feet.and they have 4 four hands and they are 4 times stronger then us.a wild animal is no joke.

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  6. Hi Chrissie, Will and the littlies. I am with you – love the animals. Max is so cute, but may aquire a few other names as time progresses. I bet the kids are so excited to have him.
    Love reading your blogs – keep ’em comin’ Love for now Ann B

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    • Thanks Anne, lovely to hear from you. The kids are loving having Max as a pet. He started grooming Jock yesterday, it was hilarious, and thankfully he found no nits!! Hope all is well with you, love C xx

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  9. At school on of the grounds man had a pet monkey which I used to traet with a snack each lunchtime. He would sit on my shoulder and I used to look forward to this encounter each day. I did this for many months and one day someone while walking past pulled on his tail and next thing this placid pet latched onto my nose and I ended up having a distemper shot in my belly the next 21 days. This by the way was in 1968.

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    • Hi Neil and Lesley, Great to hear from you. I’m guessing this was in India, and not in Townsville???The distemper shots sound horrid, and I’ve just started the reality check of how we actually care for the little guy. Thankfully have found a monkey santuary in Ghana and hoping they’ll give us some advice. Hope all is well, Chrissie and Bill

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