The fact that vervet monkeys can thrive let alone survive in the harsh semi-arid Karoo is indicative of this species’ amazing adaptability. On Samara vervet monkeys are found at some of the highest densities recorded for this widely distributed species. Acacia Karoo’s (pictured above) are the most abundant tree species in the Karoo and are extremely important to vervets survival, as in addition to providing invaluable shelter for sleep sites they also utilize all parts of this plant; seeds, leaves, flowers and gum for food. At Samara, during a severe drought period, a troop of vervets have been recorded to go 30 days without access to free-standing water, an amazing feet for a species which is generally considered to require water on a daily basis. It is proposed that they survived this dry period by shifting their diet to obtain the necessary water requirements from the various succulent plant species found in the Karoo, most prominently of the vygie family.
