Translocation of Delhi monkeys to HP angers farmers, NGO

Shimla, Oct 13 (UNI) An NGO in Himachal Pradesh, demanding amendment in the Wildlife Act to minimize losses to farmers due to wild animals, today opposed the translocation of 300 monkeys from Delhi to HP and threatened to launch an agitation against the proposed move.

Reacting to a news that 300 monkeys in Delhi were likely to be translocated to Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) today said it would be against the interests of the farmers of the state.

HGVS President Kuldeep Singh Tanwar told UNI that since wild animals, especially monkeys, pigs and birds, cause an estimated loss of Rs 375 crore to agricultural and horticultural produce in the state every year, it would not be in the fitness of things to transport more monkeys to the state.

The farmers who were already suffering huge losses due to the wild animals would oppose the decision besides intensifying its agitation in support of amending the Act, he said.

Mr Tanwar said the HGVS rally on October nine was an attempt to attract the Centre and the state government's attention towards the plight of the farmers.

''We had also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the chief minister through the Chief Wildlife Conservator, demanding measures to protect the agricultural produce of the farmers from the animals.'' He said a team would also soon be leaving for New Delhi where it would meet officials of various ministries and impress upon them the need to export monkeys to other countries for research work.

The organisation criticised the Centre's decision to release monkeys in states like Himachal Pradesh, which were already facing a tough situation with wild animals causing huge losses to their agricultural produce, he added.

The HGVS President said they would also approach the chief minister and seek his intervention in the matter.

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