One may call it monkey business but if it was not for the forest department of Delhi, a large number of people in Delhi would be spending half their time in warding off monkeys. The rampaging simians have been biting people – requiring anti-rabies injections, damaging cars, tearing away two-wheeler seats besides stealing and snatching away food from so and sundry.
Even VVIP areas like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministerial bungalows, Government offices like Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Rail Bhawan, Sena Bhawan are their playground.
Putting up wire mesh, steel grills on windows and glass shards on walls have failed to prevent them from entering the corridors of power, let alone common man’s residential colonies. VVIP buildings have deployed trained langurs to scare away monkeys but with limited success.
That’s why civic authorities have been catching monkeys and releasing them in forested areas – Central ridge, Southern Ridge, Northern Ridge and of course Ashola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary spread across approx 1000 square kilometer area in Delhi.
But, even this measure has not been very successful. These rowdy apes tend to return to their favourite civilian areas soon after. Rashtrapati Bhawan sources claim that over 150 monkeys are still present inside the Presidential Estate.
That’s why forest department has started an innovative though slightly expensive scheme – to feed monkeys inside the forest so that they don’t return to civilian areas. Mother Dairy trucks reach forest areas at 6 in the morning carrying seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Indian Masterminds visited these feeding centres with Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Delhi, Dr Suneesh Buxy too have a first hand account of the practice.
“It’s a temporary measure. We are planting fruit trees inside the forest areas and within a year or two, they will be bearing enough fruits to feed the 50,000 odd monkeys staying in Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary. Same experiment is being repeated in other forests as well”, Dr Buxy said.
Please watch the video for full information and the interview…
