Monkey Catching Drive Goes Full Throttle In Renuka ji

Ramesh Paharia

The forest department has pressed pedal to catch monkeys that have forced farmers to abandon crop fields. And at the same time created terror among kids in Sangrah area of Sirmaur district. The department has caught about 80 monkeys in last two weeks. The damage inflicted by monkey menace in the area could well be judged from the fact that farmers have left farming and turned to labour work there. Besides this, monkeys have also attacked and injured a 12th class student of Sangrah about three months back.

People here are showing apprehensions of leaving violent monkeys in Sangrah.  Farmers of the area started ‘operation culling’ in July, August 2007 to get rid of the problem of monkey menace in the area under the banner of ‘kheti bachao sangthan’. About 420 monkeys were killed in the drive. The forest department too helped farmers by giving permission to gun license holder farmers to kill monkeys and providing financial help to purchase ammunition.

But the department imposed strict ban on killing of monkeys after the intervention of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on the news of 420 monkeys getting killed went viral on newspapers. BJP Kisan Morcha Division President Babu Ram Sharma appreciated efforts of the forest department of catching and sterilising the monkeys.

District President of Kisan Sabha Sirmaur termed forest department exercise of catching and sterilising monkeys as a drama only. He said that the department is trying to console farmers by starting a programme of catching monkeys ate few places only. No signs of decrease in strength of monkeys because of sterilisartion programme is visible on ground till yet, adds he. He said that ban on ‘operation culling’ started by organisations like Kisan sabha, gyan vigyan samiti and kheti bachao samiti etc in 2007 was ironical. Export of monkeys could prove a permanent solution of monkey menace, added he.

No Sterilisation In 12 Days

The forest department no doubt has caught about 80 monkeys in last two weeks. But none of them could be sterilised, as the doctor working in monkey sterilisation centre, Paonta Sahib is on leave for last 12 days. According to Divisional Forest Officer, Renuka ji Sanjeev Rana and Forest Ranger Ashok Kumar the monkey catching programme is on in Renuka ji range of forest division also besides in Sangrah area and 114 monkeys were sterilised in last month before doctor going on leave.

Mohammed Yusuf, chief of the monkey catching team called by forest department from Rajasthan said that they will have to bear huge loss and have to go back to their native place if they have to stop monkey catching job for some days because of filling space for housing monkeys. Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife wing, Shimla Rajesh Kumar said that doctor of monkey sterilisation centre at Paonta Sahib will be back from leave by December 11, 2017. He further added that about 100 monkeys could be sterilised in a day in the centre and it will take only two to three days to sterilise all the monkeys caught there in the centre.

Long Captivity Of Monkeys

SARA, a self help group that is involved in environment awareness related activities in the area has raised objections over long captivity of monkeys in cages. The group also raised objections on death of two of monkeys out of 82 monkeys in captivity there. The group also raised questions of improper food arrangement, captivity and first aid facility.

Chief Secretary of the group B.N. Sharma that complaints will be send to Union Environment Ministry and PETA organisation and even legal action will be taken if basic facilities will not be provided to the monkeys kept in such a long captivity for sterilisation.

According to information from the department, the department gives Rs. 700 per monkey to monkey catcher for catching unsterilised monkey while Rs. 150 is given for catching less than six months old sterilised monkey. However people in the area are feeling relieved because of monkey catching drive.

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