The ten-year project involves catching and castrating monkeys to control their growing population, and rehabilitating them when normalcy is restored.
Mathura 2022-06-29 (Vrindavan Today News): Residents and tourists in Mathura and Agra can finally look forward to some relief from the infamous ‘monkey menace’ as the long-awaited Monkey Rescue Centre becomes a reality in Braj. The Centre will be established on 33 acres of land provided by the forest department. The overall project is estimated to cost INR100cr.
Drawn with the long-term goal of controlling monkey population, the ten-year plan involves catching and castrating monkeys to control their growing population, and rehabilitating them when normalcy is restored. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) jointly prepared by the forest department, Veterinary College (Mathura) and Municipal Corporations of Agra and Mathura is awaiting approval from the government.
The terror of monkeys in Agra and Mathura has been spiralling out of control. Everyday nearly 400-500 people are taking anti-rabies injections in Agra District Hospital after being attacked. In the last couple of months, over four dozen people have died and several hundreds were injured. The unruly primates have not even spared crops.
While the exact number of monkeys in Agra and Mathura (Braj) is not known, a recent survey pegs the figure at around 1 lakh. Activists and researchers however believe that the number is much higher. Sporadic monkey catching initiatives have failed in controlling the growing population of primates. Relocation is therefore neither a successful nor sustainable approach to this persistent problem which demands a more holistic solution.
Keeping this in mind, the DPR was prepared to curb monkey population in the long term by way of castration. The upcoming Rescue Centre will have a fully-dedicated operation theatre with all modern instruments and technology for castrating monkeys. According to some estimates, most of the monkeys in Braj are suffering from some or the other disease. The centre will also provide them with necessary medical treatment and care through a specialized team of veterinary doctors.
