Monkey counting on July 1

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 5

To have an exact estimate of the simian population in the state, the Forest Department, with the help of experts, will undertake counting of monkeys in all forest beats of the state on July 1.

To ensure the accuracy of the exercise, a very scientific method will be adopted, under the guidance of renowned primate experts, including Dr Mewa Singh from the University of Mysore, Dr HN Kumara, scientist at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, and Dr Ajith Kumar of CNBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences), Bangalore.

The team of experts will arrive here on June 25 to guide and monitor field officials and for proper pre and post survey operations. The survey, which will be undertaken on July 1 from 7 am to 5.30 pm, will be repeated again in December.

The monkey population estimation will be done through actual counting of male, female, juvenile and young monkeys in each troupe at every location. The status of monkey population would be estimated in five categories, namely forests, urban, rural, temple and road sides, by following a ‘direct head count method’ so that there is maximum possible accuracy. A pre and post survey will also be held.

“An assessment of the correct monkey population will help assess whether the simian population in the state is diminishing or increasing, so we intend to undertake a scientific estimation process on July 1,” said Tarun Sridhar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Revenue).

He said it was imperative to do away with the misplaced apprehensions of people with regard to the population trend of simians in the state. Results of this survey are expected to be compiled by July 17, 2015.

The monkey census carried out in 2004 had put the figure at 3,17,112 while in the 2013 census, the number had declined to 2,26,086.

Partial monkey census surveys carried out in 2010 and 2012 in select forest divisions could not give a conclusive report on the trend of the simian population.

The Wildlife wing has appealed to various NGOs, schools, panchayats and mahila mandals to join hands and assist the department to take real stock of the monkey population to enable them evolve a better strategy to control the simian population.

Seeing the monkey menace, the state had also sought the help of experts from Primate Research Centre, University of California, who had effectively tackled the problem of simians in some Asian countries.

A total of 96,126 monkeys have been sterilised at the centres located at Tutikandi (the first one to be set up in the state in 2007), Sastar (Hamirpur), Gopalpur (Kangra), Boul (Una), Salapar (Mandi), Sarol (Chamba) and Paonta Sahib (Sirmour).