Two monkeys forced to beg at Dadar railway station, rescued
MUMBAI: Two monkeys (rhesus macaques) were rescued from a woman who was using the animals to solicit alms from pedestrians at Dadar railway station. The woman was detained for illegally keeping the animals in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, but was let off with a warning.
The state forest department and police were tipped off about the woman by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India which received the information from a concerned citizen.
Rhesus macaques are a protected species under schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The rescued animals were sent to the Mumbai range forest office for rehabilitation.
“The monkeys are currently being treated for minor injuries and will be released in the wild soon,” said a forest officer.
Peta regularly reminds citizens to report cases of abuse and illegal trade in animals. “Smart, social monkeys should be with their families in the wild, not begging for money in a crowded railway station under the command of cruel people,” said Deepak Chaudhary, emergency response coordinator, Peta India.
“This type of incident is exactly why laws protecting imperiled wild animals from exploitation exist.”
He added that there was a group functioning between Kalwa and Dadar that was keeping monkeys illegally and using them for begging.
“We are working with the forest department to destroy this nexus,” said Chaudhary.