Monkeys need food, place to stay, says HC

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday expressed concern over insufficient efforts from the city government and municipal corporations in ensuring a proper place for food and survival of monkeys in the capital.

“They are entitled for respect. They also need place to stay. It is a very painful sight for us to see that huge groups of these animals are searching for food in the garbage bin,” the high court said, adding “what troubles us is that they have no place and no food. They are in bad shape”.

The court’s observation came after it was told by the South Delhi Municipal Committee (SDMC) that it cannot catch the simians and relocate them due to lack of monkey-catchers and that this was the job of the Delhi government’s wildlife department.

The court reminded of a 2007 order to all civic agencies here for freeing the capital of simians. It directed the concerned officials to appear before it in person and explain the modalities to be worked in this regard and fixed the matter for next hearing on September 26.

The court also posted for hearing on September 26 a petition seeking protection of peacocks from stray animals in the city’s parks. It has sought response from city government, DDA and South Delhi Municipal Corporation on the petition.

Petitioner Sumita Kapil, a south Delhi resident, had moved the court claiming that a large number of dogs, pigs and monkeys were threatening the peacocks at Deer Park, causing them to leave the park and come out on the roads.

The petition also sought protection of stray animals by putting them in their shelters so that they neither harm each other, nor get hurt.