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Keystone / AP
They have been attacking residents and visitors for years, and barely a bag of groceries is safe from them. The national lockdown in the spring drove them out of the city for a few weeks, but now they are back.
Aggressive and dangerous: the hordes of monkeys are back
The state capital of Himachal Pradesh attracts tourists from all over the world with its Victorian-style colonial buildings and countless hordes of hungry macaques in its wake. The strict March to June curfew forced them to leave the city for a few months because they couldn’t find anything to eat. But the brief respite is over and the 50 or so hordes of monkeys that have returned are more aggressive than ever.
“Fortunately, I had a stick and I was able to scare them away,” says Nand Lal. “I had come across a group of monkeys when their leader suddenly attacked me, and then three more jumped out.” The 46-year-old man suffered a bite on his back and had to be vaccinated against rabies.
“People are very scared, they don’t know what to do,” says Kuldeep Chand Sood. The former constitutional judge was also attacked by a giant monkey while reading a book on the terrace. The bite wound on the leg can still be seen clearly.
Overflowing garbage cans are a magical attraction for monkeys
In the Sanjauli neighborhood of Sood, many residents have put metal bars on their windows to protect themselves from monkeys. Because the macaques do not hesitate to break into the houses and empty the refrigerators.
In part, residents and visitors are responsible for the location themselves. Overflowing garbage cans in hotels and restaurants are a magical attraction for monkeys, explains Rajesh Sharma of the environmental agency. However, they did not give up the bad habits they had once learned, even if the garbage disposal was improved in the meantime. “Now you’re just trying to grab everything anyone has in their hands.” “If you can’t find anything, take a bite.”
Actually, monkeys are traditionally worshiped in this Hindu country. One of the largest statues of the monkey god Hanuman is found in the Jakhu Temple in Shimla. However, as soon as travelers look at Hanuman, glasses or other shiny objects are also lost there.
Millions of damages are caused
And when they don’t attack people, the monkeys steal fruits and grains from farmers’ fields, causing millions in damage every year. The government of Himachal Pradesh has declared that some 130,000 monkeys in its state are pests. No campaigns were started to decimate them. Therefore, many farmers turn to self-help: they have already secretly poisoned hundreds of animals.
The authorities are taking a different path. They depend on the sterilization of the macaques. In recent years, 157,000 animals have been sterilized. The monkeys are lured into cages with bananas and bread so that they can then perform the procedure. Experts see this as the only way to control the problem.
But the monkeys are not stupid and now they see through deception, said environmental expert Sharma. “If someone is caught, warn the others.” (SDA)
