Despite having an official no monkeys policy, Council has been criticised for encouraging primates to take up residence within Lawson Park
Even in their South American homeland, cane toads are a pain in the neck. Slimy, ugly and poisonous, few would be unhappy if they were to become extinct. But monkeys are a different proposition entirely. Monkeys are not only clever, but funny and cheeky in a lovable way.
Since their initial release into Lawson Park in 1845, Mudgee residents have been sharply divided over the monkey question.
‘Some people reckon monkeys are a problem because they compete against native animals for resources. The way I
see it, native animals have had it too easy for too long – they would probably bene t from some healthy competition,’ argues local eugenics proponent, Charles Streat. ‘I mean, what sort of a country allows an animal like the koala to exist? You give a koala a tree and they just spend all day sleeping in it. You give that same tree to a monkey and then you’re really going to see some action.’
Even in their South American homeland, cane toads are a pain in the neck. Slimy, ugly and poisonous, few would be unhappy if they were to become extinct. But monkeys are a different proposition entirely. Monkeys are not only clever, but funny and cheeky in a lovable way.
Since their initial release into Lawson Park in 1845, Mudgee residents have been sharply divided over the monkey question.
‘Some people reckon monkeys are a problem because they compete against native animals for resources. The way I
see it, native animals have had it too easy for too long – they would probably bene t from some healthy competition,’ argues local eugenics proponent, Charles Streat. ‘I mean, what sort of a country allows an animal like the koala to exist? You give a koala a tree and they just spend all day sleeping in it. You give that same tree to a monkey and then you’re really going to see some action.’