Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 26

Despite monkeys being declared vermin for the second time in the state capital, not even a single simian has been killed to date even as there is a sudden spurt in monkey bite cases.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has acceded to the state government’s request for declaring monkeys vermin within the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), but residents are questioning the entire exercise, terming it futile. It was on July 11 that the Centre had issued a notification declaring monkeys vermin within the SMC for a period of one year.

There has been a sudden spurt in monkey bite cases, with dog bite cases too pouring in at city hospitals. In 2018, almost 1,744 persons were given anti-rabies vaccine in government hospitals, while many sought medical aid in private clinics and hospitals. The number of monkey bite cases at Deen Dayal Updhyay hospital alone was 79.

“What is the point in seeking the Centre’s nod to declare monkeys vermin when there is no respite to residents. Stepping out has become dangerous as there is sudden rise in monkey attacks, with women and schoolchildren being a soft target,” said Puran Chand Sharma, a local.

While even in 2016 when monkeys were declared vermin within the SMC, not even a single monkey was killed. “It is not the mandate of the Forest Department to kill monkeys when declared vermin and the residents will have to eliminate them on their own wherever they are creating a problem,” asserts Dr Savita, Principal Chief Conservator, Forests (Wildlife).

The monkey figure for Shimla indicates that their estimated density is about 0.75 group per sq km, which is very high. “This means that there is at least one troupe of monkeys in each sq km with each troupe having about 30 monkeys,” said a forest official. He added that studies had indicated that the home range size of any monkey in Shimla was about 5sq km.

Though monkey estimation in Shimla had put their population at 1,700 in 49 troupes, most residents question this figure. “The number of monkeys is far more, which is obvious with the increase in bites,” said Kuldeep Tanwar, president, Shimla Nagrik Sabha. People are demanding that the Forest Department must engage shooters and eliminate the maundering monkeys so that residents can live without fear.

The wildlife wing of the Forest Department had undertaken a study to assess the behvaiour of monkeys in the state capital in September 2018. The survey covered 31 of the 34 wards of the town and the highest number of 218 monkeys was found in Jakhoo, followed by 125 in Benmore, 111 in Bharari, 100 in Totu, 75 in Nabha, 73 in Ram Bazaar and 69 in Malyana. Each troupe has about 25 adults, including 15 females.

The highest number of nine troupes is in Jakhoo, three in Totu and two each in Nabha, Benmore, Malyana, Chotta Shimla and Khalini.