Home range and habitat use of vervet monkeys in the urban forest mosaic landscape of Durban, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract Generally, urbanisation affects biodiversity negatively; however, some species thrive in urban areas. One mammalian thriving the forest mosaic landscape is vervet monkey ( Chlorocebus pygerythrus ), particularly Durban, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Vervet monkeys’ spatial use can provide important ecological information to understand their behavioural plasticity an landscape. We, therefore, captured and collared monkeys with Global Positioning System (GPS)-Ultra High Frequency (UHF) transmitters two sites of varying degrees natural land-use types within eThekwini. Three home range methods Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP), Kernel Density Estimator (KDE), Local Hull (LoCoH) were used determine individual size core area use. Home (30.7 ha 95% KDE) (6.5 50% estimates relatively small for these monkeys. Forest thicket, built-up habitat most by across Overall, individuals this study showed that monkeys, regardless environment, successfully exist The ecology provides valuable future education management interventions, especially where there are negative human-monkey interactions amongst communities.