Page 49 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

monkey menace

they they want to kill the same steri- ment (out of which PAN is 15 per cent) highway, in Mandi little girl died after
lised monkeys.’’ while only 17.14 percent is with farmers monkeys attacked her, Mamta Sach-
Kheto Bachao Samiti Conserva- (out of which only 11.17 per cent area deva, a young women died in Shimla
tive estimates put the loss of 300-450 in cultivable by 9,60,765 farmer fami- when group of monkeys attacked her
crores to crops. ( 75-100 crores horti- lies. ‘’Due to all these reasons farmers on November 4, 2014.
cultural crops plus around 300 crores are migrating from different parts of State Forest Minister Gobind Singh
to agricultural crops). Fallow land due Sirmour to Shimla and working as la- Thakur said that state government is
to wild animal menace (out of 78,791 borers in Drabil, Jhakando, Nainidhar, well aware about the losses of crops
hectares) amounting to loss of more Lojhamanal, Koto Bonch, Panog, in and human lived in the state by mon-
than 500 crores. Watch & ward costs Shillai and from other blocks,’’ claimed keys and other wild animals. ‘’We have
another 1,200 crores (5 to 6 lakh family the farmer leader. He also claimed that framed policies for the compensation.
members/hired persons are engaged Sumoti Devi of Kando Bhatnol, Dinesh We have also took certain measures to
in this effort for more than 150 to 200 of Navan Bahtwar while a woman died protect people from monkey attacks.
days). “Total loss according to our study near Ghaghas bridge while saving her Monkey’s sterlisation programme is
is 2,200 crores per year,’’ said Bhuraita. children from attacking monkeys, a also yielding good results,’’ said Thakur.
According to unofficial records 66.52 motorcyclist was killed by group of
per cent land is with the forest depart- aggressing monkeys on Kalka-Shimla letters@tehelka.com

responsible for this interfer- tion policy in the past. A single population. Secondly, before
ence are the common farmers? specie of trees was promoted 1978, India was the largest
how many small and marginal in forests. The policy of grow- exporter of monkeys, export-
farmers have encroached on ing cheer pine between 1000 to ing 60-70 thousands monkeys
forests? forest mafia is primarily 1800 mt. height has led to a vast per year to other countries for
responsible for such encroach- impact on forest life, continu- bio-medical researches. After
ments, that has eliminated ously diminishing wild fruits, 1978 this was banned. The ban
forests after forests, or illegally flowers, roots and herbs which on the export of monkeys was
occupied hundreds of bighas of were consumed by wild animals laid because of pressure from
forest land. Large scale tree fell- as food. To a certain extent, the national and international agen-
ing is also not done by the com- Wildlife Acts are also respon- cies who at times give a greater
mon person but by forest mafia. sible for increasing population weigtage to sensitivity towards
Often the blame of ecological of certain wild species. In these animals but overlook human
imbalance is thrust on the farm- Acts the blanket ban on killing difficulties. In 1980, HP had
ers and unregulated damage of wild animals has also ag- 60,000 monkeys population
by forest mafia is overlooked. gravated the problem. Legally, which has risen to 3,17,112 (as
Big dam, cement factories and monkeys cannot be killed. per 2004 census), which reg-
other projects have also re- Under The Prevention of isters a growth of 530 per cent
peatedly muddled with wildlife Cruelty To Animals Act, 1960 over that period 1908-2004.
habitats but the forest depart- This is far greater than the
ment has been unwilling to (Section 11.3), it is allowed to kill carrying capacity of the state
share their responsibility. In last stray dogs, but not monkeys. ( Monkey Menace in Himachal
Only protection of wild animals
years availability of food base in is not enough there must be Pradesh, Report prepared by
forest area has decreased due the Committee appointed by
to fragmentation and continu- active management of wildlife. the AWBI-Ministry of Environ-
ous degradation of forest as Both preventive and reactive ment & Forests, GOI, Decem-
measures must be under taken
well as monoculture practices by the forest department to ber, 2005). If their growth rate
being followed. The diminishing is not checked, it will reach
availability of food and wildlife minimize human-wildlife con- alarming proportions in near
entering human habitation has flict. Increase in population of future. In the current changed
monkeys is attributable to other
very historical reason behind factors also. Religious feelings scenario, the lifting of ban on
it. An important reason for this export of monkeys needs to be
has been the faulty planta- have also led to increase in their reconsidered.

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 49 www.Tehelka.com

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