Monkey problem getting out of hand (Sunderbani and Reasi became Planet of the Apes)

Most of the schools in my village and nearby area report their overall daily attendance of students is chronically getting low. Every year in the months of August and September this problem arises. There are many reasons of absenteeism but the main reason is child labor in agriculture. There is a forest around the village Bandrai from where monkeys come and destroy the crops like Maize(MAKKA) or Indian corn and paddy( DHAN).These students help their parents to protect their crops from monkeys. Children preferred to stay away from school and studies just to protect crop loss caused by Monkeys.   Students and their parents stay in field to shield crops and spent most of the time in chasing away monkeys.Monkeys not only eat and destroying the crops of the farmers, they are also a threat to humans. The man-monkey conflict is common in my village. Monkeys attacking on villagers, bite and scratches them. It can cause a serious infection because monkey’s saliva is contaminated with pathogens. Bite and scratch of monkeys can even cause RABIES and TUBERCULOSIS. Population of monkeys is increasing day by day and it triggered the Man-animal conflictsJ&K is rich in the diversity of flora and fauna. Major wildlife species witnessed in the state include-Hangul, wild boar, Musk deer, Snow Leopard, Jungle Cat, Rhesus macaques, Langur,  Porcupine, Civet, Python, King Cobra and a variety of resident and migratory bird species. As the crop depredation issues are concerned the rhesus is macaque is the main culprit.

Rhesus macaque is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys because of large population and broad range habitat.  It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These are intelligent animals they can adapt to many habitats, and some can even living in human communities. Dusty brown in color, they are having reddish-pink faces and long tail. They are highly social and living in groups. According to the new research after humans, rhesus macaques are one of the most successful primate species on our planet. Rhesus macaques live in complex societies with 5-6 female and young ones. Adult females give birth to one baby per year and the population increases because there were no predators and export of monkeys for research was banned in 1972 by Government of India(in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)

Jammu and Kashmir has its own wildlife protection act, 1978 it is different from the wild life protection act of India 1972. Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases; like if wild animal become dangerous to human life or property including standing crops. The chief wild life warden or authorized officer permit any person to hunt such animal in J&K. the killing in good faith or in defence of oneself or any other person shall not be an offence.

Monkey is triggering conflict between people and wild life. They are become an agricultural pest but still a religious icon in Bandrai. THE MONKEY GOD or Hanuman is one or the most worshiped figure in Hindu scripture ‘Ramayana’. He is a symbol of strength, perseverance, devotion and energy and believed to be an avtara of lord Shiva.  As in my village there are an 85% people are Hindus. They not going to kill monkey and still considered them a monkey god.

Villagers don’t kill monkeys but have some Simple Ways to drive away them:

SHEPHERDIS ROCK SLING (KAMANI):

SLING (KAMANI)

It is a Traditional Weapon use for hunting game bards. It is a projectile rock throwing weapon. In Dogari language it is known as kamani. It consists of a pouch and two lengths of string. A rock or clay ball is placed in the pouch and the two ends of the string are held in the hand. The sling is then swing over the head to gain momentum. The sling is then swinging forward in a throwing action and one end of the cord is released causing the pouch to open releasing the stone to fly at the target. Traditional sling are made from natural fibers like jute and Hemp fiber.

SCARECROW (DRONA):

It is installed in field to scare away monkeys and birds. It is made up of ‘T’ shaped wooden frame, old clothes and stuffed with straw, grass or dried leaves. Scarecrow is not very much effective to controlling monkeys in fields but monkeys today become smarter and scarecrows works for a few days only and these smarter monkeys again come and start destroying crops.

BULLWHIP/HUNTER ( पातकी)

BULLWHIP/HUNTER

It is long, girl braid (choti) like band structure made up of leather or weeds fibers woven into bullwhip. The tip of the whip is move faster than the speed of sound creating a sonic boom sound having high amount of energy. The sound produced by bullwhip is mimicking the sound of explosion. This handmade device is also very much effective in scaring monkey out of field.

BURSTING OF CRACKERS (PATAKHE/ पटाखे):

It is a kind of auditory signals used in agriculture field to save crop from monkeys and other wild animal. These firecrackers are fired into the air from a small launcher like slingshot during a scary monkeys encounter. The explosion of cracker produces noise and light help in drive away monkeys. To make huge sound by bursting fire crackers in order to scare monkeys is very costly method because the cost of fire cracker is very high today

SLINGSHORT (GULEL):

SLINGSHORT (GULEL)

Is a small ‘Y’ shaped highly powerful projectile weapon. Use for shooting small stones/ marbles, mud balls and crackers. The ‘Y’ shaped frame is made up of wood or iron and bind with an elastic rubber band and rubber obtained from cycle tires tube. The two ends of these rubbers are attached with a lather pouch in which stone is placed and shoot.

Tin Containers of Edible Oil (कनस्तर (kanastara)(शैककी):

It is also known as PEPA in village. It is made up of a tin. Like other metals tin is also sonorous. When struck hard with iron road that is hanging in the center of the container and it tie with a long rope.  When someone pulls the rope the centered iron road is strikes with the metal and it produced sound. It creates discomfort for monkeys and they will move away for some time from field. This device is very helpful in maintain physical distance between man and wild animals.

BHONKA / PONKA कुर्ककुना (टीन का डिब्बा):

BHONKA/PONKA

It is made up of 1 Kg Tin Container of Ghee or paint. Villager punch a small hole in center of the bottom of a container with the help of nail and then thread one end of string through the bottom of the container then put small wooden stick in the bottom and tie the loose end of the string around it. Stick help in controlling pullout of string from container. When string is pulling and releasing with fingers it produce a barking sound (Bhaoooon- bhaonn) same like a barking dog. This barking sound is very much increased with wet hands.

But these are only a temporary relief. These methods are effective at least in the beginning, but soon monkeys are become habituated to these. They learn to ignore them. The livelihood of farmers today in Sunderbani/Reasi area is seriously threatened by monkeys. Crop depredation by wild animal especially by monkeys is normal in Bandrai now’s days. But it not the same few years back. Monkeys were relocated from Reasi and released in nearby forest. Conflict with monkeys is a direct result of mismanagement of forest and wildlife department.