Children traumatised as animal welfare group blames 'dreadful superstition' fuelled by ignorance.

A monkey was pelted with stones, shot at and burned to death in a
South African township because residents believed it was linked to
witchcraft, an animal welfare agency has said.A
mob chanted "Kill that witch!" as the vervet monkey was put in a
bucket, doused with petrol and set on fire, according to witnesses.
Children who witnessed the killing last week were said to be
traumatised.One resident, Tebogo Moswetsi, admitted he had
captured the monkey as it sought refuge up a tree in Kagiso, west of
Johannesburg."I was curious to see this monkey that people
claimed could talk, and when I saw a group of people chasing after it, I
joined them," he told South Africa's Star newspaper.
"When it went up the tree, I climbed after it and brought it down
because I was curious as I found it unbelievable that a monkey could
talk."I feel guilty. I shouldn't have taken it down from that
tree. I dropped it down after someone poured petrol on it. I had no
choice."Moswetsi added: "Someone struck a match. [The monkey] got
out of the bucket and dropped down dead. They continued throwing stones
at it."


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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/31/mob-burns-monkey-as-witch