Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Conservation status

The IUCN¹ Red List of Threatened Species classes vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) as ‘Least Concern’. Despite this, vervet populations which have been studied over long periods show a trend of declining numbers.  In many countries they are extensively killed for bushmeat and their infants captured for the illegal pet trade. In some cases they are treated as vermin and poisoned, shot and trapped.  As human populations and agriculture expand, hunting pressure on vervets is increasing in some parts of their range and could reach unsustainable levels if it is not curtailed.

^¹International Union for Conservation of Nature

CITES² STATUS

²The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) is an international agreement between governments which provides varying levels of protection for species that are or may be in danger of extinction from international trade.

Appendix II includes species that, although not necessarily threatened with extinction, may become so unless trade is strictly regulated. Commercial international trade in Appendix II species is permitted, but is subject to strict controls

^³Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.  CITES is a UN convention which regulates trade in threatened animals and plants.