56 Cases Of Problematic Monkeys Recorded In Bengaluru Urban Division, Karnataka High Court Told

Giving details of the procedure followed by the Bangalore Urban Forest Division, on receiving complaints regarding problematic monkeys from the general public, the report states,

"These complaints are verified by the jurisdictional range forest officer and his staff and submit a report to the divisional office. The Deputy Conservator of Forest forwards the report and application to the Chief Conservator of Forest and WildLife Warden, Bangalore circle seeking an order for capture and release of the problematic monkeys."

In its report, the state government has said that as per the notification issued in 2010, concerned municipalities and forest departments are dealing with the issue of problematic monkeys on a case to case basis.

"Though such arrangements are in place after realising the severity of the problem towards finding a suitable solution, the state government has announced a programme of establishing a monkey park in the budget of 2020-21."

It added that, however, due to sharp resistance by the locals about the monkeys to be released in their area, many of the selected sites were given up. An area of 170 acres in Shimoga district has been identified for establishing a monkey park. As part of this scheme, a mobile veterinary operation unit has been prepared under the guidance of the project director, Karnataka Cattle Development Board of the animal husbandry department. Training to veterinary doctors regarding behavioural aspects, capture, sterilization and release has also been done.

The report was submitted by the state government while hearing a petition by B S Radhanandan. The court had earlier directed the State Government to evolve a scheme on the line of directions issued by the Delhi High Court in the case of New Friends Colony Residents v. Union Of India (UoI) And Ors, for rehabilitation of monkeys causing difficulties to citizens of Bengaluru by entering residential localities, in search of food.

Last week, the High Court had taken suo-motu cognizance of media reports regarding the incident of unidentified persons allegedly poisoning a group of Bonnet Macaques (monkeys), and killing over 38 of them. The carcasses were found at a road junction at Chowdenahalli in Arehali Hobli of Belur taluk in Karnataka's Hassan district on Wednesday (July 28).