Monkey menace divides apartment residents in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The incursion of monkeys (bonnet macaques) into apartments in south and north Bengaluru has become a divisive issue, with some considering the primates a nuisance and worrying about the “exorbitant” cost of their removal, while others see coexistence as a necessity, if not inevitable, due to the lack of a solution.

Studies have shown that the disappearance of forests has forced a shift in the behaviour of bonnet macaques. Instead of foraging for fruits, seeds, insects, eggs and leaves, the simians have begun raiding farms and horticultural plantations.

As agricultural fields and orchards on the periphery disappeared, the monkeys became dependent on humans for food, including foraging through food waste.

Till recently, getting permission to remove the monkeys from residential areas was a simple procedure. However, the Union government’s move to accord the highest protection to the simians has now made the procedure longer.

As per the amended provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, bonnet macaques are Schedule I species, enjoying the same protection as a tiger. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka has the power to authorise their relocation.

Complaints across city

Documents show that over the last few months, the forest department has authorised the relocation of monkeys in several apartments, including the relocation of 40 to 60 monkeys in an apartment complex at Narayana Nagar, Doddakallasandra, and the relocation of three monkeys at Nagegowdanapalya in Talaghattapura.

Residents in parts of Kengeri, Uttarahalli, Vajarahalli and Sarjapur in the southeast have submitted complaints to the forest department. In north Bengaluru, Range Forest Officer Varun Kumar said there was a steady flow of complaints.

“We get complaints every week, and some write seeking help to relocate the monkeys. Apartments in Kempapura, Doddagubbi and Vidyaranyapura have submitted requests for permission to relocate the monkeys. We are processing the requests as per the rules,” he said.

The rules now mandate that the RFO inspect the area and send a report to the Chief Wildlife Warden. Permission is granted on the condition that the forest officer monitors the operation and ensures that the standard operating procedure is followed.

A forest officer said animal rescuers take risks in capturing monkeys and charge about Rs 5,000 to capture and relocate one monkey. “There is a risk involved in rescuing the monkey. Death of the animal or injury will land the rescuers in trouble. This has made some back away from the job,” he said.

DH spoke to animal rescuers who said the simians were unpredictable. “Forest officers carry a rifle while rescuing a leopard. Monkeys can sometimes become aggressive and cause harm. A group of three to five people rescuing 40-60 monkeys is exposing itself to risk,” he said.

Relook into relocation Ganesh V Assistant Conservator of Forests said most translocation attempts need to be studied. “Monkeys taken several kilometres away slowly return to the city. In some cases it looks like the problem has been shifted from one place to another. This needs to be studied carefully considering that the animals have been accorded Schedule I status” he said.

Of the residents DH spoke to while some stressed the need to remove the simians to ensure the safety of children at least two said coexistence should be accepted as a solution. “First we need to fix the basics like waste management. Secondly people need to stop feeding them and encouraging that dependency. Lastly we have to understand that we have built apartments in what were once orchards and farmlands that hosted these animals. So we have to learn to coexist with them” a resident said.