Monkey business

BANGALORE: Over the years, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has taken several measures in preserving the flora and fauna of the garden city. The ever growing urbanisation and transformation of the city into a concrete jungle has thrown up a new debate with the administration being questioned on its capability of providing justice to the birds and animals that are commonly found in the city.With the issue being discussed, the BBMP forest mobile squad centre at Yediyur received a frantic call from Mathikere reporting ‘monkey menace’ in their area. This problem has been rising significantly in some pockets of the city and is indeed turning out to be a nightmare for many Bangaloreans. However, now the question arises — have animals come in our way of life or is it just the other way around? triggering Lack of food and continuing destruction of habitat are some of the contributing factors to the rise in the number of cases of monkeys invading households in and around Bangalore. Stressing on the importance of the issue, BBMP forest Mobile squad member Sharat Babu said, “Places like Savandurga, Anthar Gange and Bangalore were once surrounded by trees and mountains on all sides. Likewise, most of the animals were seen there in abundance in these areas. However, the exponential growth of the city with respect to population and industrialisation, has adversely affected the habitat of these primates. Therefore, reptiles and higher mammals including monkeys have, in search of food found shelter and moved to  various secure and congenial places within the city.”However,  CUPA Manager, Ramesh maintained that the rescue shelter receives at least three complaints on an average every month. “We receive several reports of monkey trouble in various areas. However, most of the times, monkeys are tortured using electric shocks or even bitten by dogs.” There have also been several cases of prevalence of rabies in primates in the past. Hence, it is mandatory that precautionary measures are exercised at all times. Echoing similar sentiments, BBMP Animal Husbandry Department, Joint Director, Parvez Ahmed Piran said, “There is always a risk of rabies where monkeys congregate. Hence,  the department has ensured that vaccinations are available at all its hospitals.