Poisoned banana meant for monkeys kills gardener

A South African gardening contractor has died a slow and painful death after eating a poisoned banana which had been left lying around in a garden in the town of Howick to bait Durban's fervet monkey troops, which many residents say are just pests.

KwaZulu-Natal gardening contractor Secoomar Brijmohan, 63, nicknamed Prem, died in agony a week later in hospital. South African fervet monkeys are increasingly invading residential areas because their natural habitats are shrinking so rapidly. There is a constant battle going on between the rampaging monkeys and residents of KwaZulu-Natal. Many homes have completely covered their back yards and windows with chicken wire to stop the clever but aggressive little animals from raiding their larders. The daughter of Prem's employer Sarisha Harrilall said he was working at a Hilton residential complex just before Christmas when he ate the banana - not knowing it was poisoned. Only after he'd eaten, did a maid inform him that the banana was left out for the monkeys, and contained a gardening poison referred to in South Africa as temic. Brijmohan was born and raised in Howick - a lovely semi-tropical region which boasts a magnificent 100-meter waterfall. He was a founding member of the Howick West Hindu Association. He served as its treasurer and secretary for close to 25 years. 'Very slow and painful death' Loraine Smith, another of Prem's clients, was shocked and saddened to hear that he had died such "a very slow and painful death" after eating the poisoned banana. Prem was a gentle and hardworking person, and it is not right that he had to die in such a senseless way." Temic is criminals weapon South African crime syndicates planning to attack family homes also often kill the family dogs with temic beforehand. see Many poisoning incidents of guard dogs are reported every day - and residents often step up their security measures after finding their dogs poisoned with temic. Hi-Tech Guard security company spokesman Mickey Erasmus tells me that poisoning with temic is 'epidemic' in the Nelspruit region where he lives.He says temic is easy to identify, it's a small black granular substance resembling poppy seeds. 'The usual way criminals use it is to mix the powder with food and then throw it over the wall into the yard where the dogs live. What is also so dangerous about temic is that people who handle poisoned dogs without gloves, could also easily fall ill.' Dogs start salivating, get muscle tremors and diahrrhoea, vomit, get a slow heartbeat and seizues, have weakness and paralysis and contracted pupils.People should avoid any contact with the animals body fluids because these could contain toxin. Rubber gloves need to be used and it's best to wrap the animal into a blanket to take it to the vet at once. He says it's also very smart to scan the entire area for the source of the poison - the tin is often tossed out. The vet should get this in sealable plastic bag so he can identify the toxin. There have been widespread calls countrywide to have the toxin banned - because there are many other safer alternatives for weed control and the criminal fraternity is using it as a weapon. They also burn it at night in a small tin can with a funnel leading into bedrooms to kill occupants, so that they can break in and loot the place without being disturbed. About the video above - I know it's not in Africa, but it was just too irresistable and funny not to publish.