Simians continue to create panic in Taj city

AGRA: A month after two shocking deaths and a series of attacks by monkeys, Taj city continues to remain in panic mode as government agencies indulge in passing the buck.

Divisional commissioner Anil Kumar and district magistrate NG Ravi Kumar have had several rounds of meetings with forest and wildlife department officials but all have raised their hands in utter helplessness. An official said there was neither the expertise nor the funds to deal with the rampaging monkeys.

“Also, even if we manage to capture some, where do we house them or free them? The provisions of the Wildlife Act leave no room for any drastic measures against the monkeys,” he said.

Officials of the Wildlife SOS, an NGO running sloth bear and elephant centres in Agra, have offered to help with sterilisations and build a secure shelter for the simians, but need funds from the state government, which has declined for the moment to support any such programme.

For district authorities, the simian menace is a major concern as tourists visiting the historical monuments have been repeatedly attacked by monkeys.

“Even the SN Medical College and the emergency ward are not safe from monkeys. There is a perpetual shortage of vaccines at the district hospital,” another official said, adding that the state government in Lucknow had been apprised of the ground realities in Agra.

Tourism industry leaders have called for prompt measures to insulate the Taj Mahal from simian invasion. “Foreign tourists feel insecure and restrict their movements fearing attacks from stray animals. So many cases of bag snatching and monkey bites have been reported that a sense of fear grips the visitors when they arrive here,” claimed Taj Ganj hotelier Sandeep Arora.

Civic authorities seem helpless in tackling the menace.

“We have written to the municipal corporation so many times,

TOURISM INDUSTRY LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR PROMPT MEASURES TO INSULATE THE TAJ MAHAL FROM SIMIAN INVASION

but there has been no action from their side,” an ASI official said.

The situation is worse in Mathura, Goverdhan and Vrindavan.

Locals say there is a certain herd mentality among monkeys. “Earlier, they would be satisfied with a biscuit or a piece of bread, but lately they have acquired a taste for juices. They are always looking for packaged juices,” said Rakesh, who, with his sister Janki, helps visitors to Kosi Ghat find their lost items. In Kosi, there have been several protests. In Mathura and Vrindavan too, many of those who had been injured had complained against the monkeys, which seem to be outnumbering the visitors and pilgrims.“Due to religious beliefs, no one wants to harm monkeys, though vegetable sellers in the area keep catapults with stones,” said Vrindavan resident Kunj Bihari. Many residents said they had complained to forest department officials in the area, but in vain. An official from the department said: “We have no funds for these activities (of catching animals).” The solution, says an animal rights activist, lies in mass sterilisation, for which special hospitals are needed.