ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands – The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change is appealing to members of the public to report sightings of monkeys across the Virgin Islands as it seeks to gather information to guide potential management measures.

In a public notice, the Ministry encouraged residents who observe monkeys, whether in the wild or in captivity, to report the sightings as soon as possible.

Members of the public are being asked to provide specific details to assist the Ministry in documenting the animals’ presence and circumstances, including:

• Date and time of the sighting.
• Exact location, including GPS coordinates where possible.
• A description of the surrounding habitat.
• The number of animals observed.
• Photographs or videos, if safely obtainable.
• Any behaviour observed.

The Ministry stressed that members of the public should not attempt to approach, capture, feed or otherwise interact with the animals.

According to the notice, information collected will assist the Ministry in determining whether any management action is necessary.

Reports can be submitted by email to mencc@gov.vg or by calling 284-468-2147.

The Ministry is encouraging the public to play an active role in reporting sightings, providing information that could help authorities better understand the presence and distribution of monkeys throughout the Territory.