With reference to the letter by Ms Rebecca Gilson (The Sunday Times, May 8), the monkey concerned is a green monkey and was homed at Ghammieri around eight years ago. This was due to the fact the owner had trouble handling this animal.

It should be noted that the animal was homed with one finger missing and has had its canines removed by its previous owner. The monkey is being kept in a room of four by 3.5 metres by three metres high which provides ample space for an animal of this kind.

Additionally, the room is furnished with a metal mesh front in the form of a balcony, 3 metres by 1 metre by 0.6 metres deep. This provides the animal with adequate ventilation and lighting. The monkey is fed with fresh fruit daily.

Although it has been at Ghammieri for almost eight years and appears to be docile, the monkey is still aggressive and wild and has to be handled with great care.