Telangana to set up monkey rescue, rehabilitation centre

A monkey rescue and rehabilitation centre will come up in Telangana's Adilabad district, which is known for a large simian population.

The centre will be established as a pilot project at Chincholi near Nirmal town, about 200 km from Hyderabad.

The department of environment and forests on Saturday issued orders to this effect.

The facility will be come up at a cost of Rs.2.21 crore, including Rs.1.56 crore as non-recurring expenditure and Rs.65 lakh as recurring cost for the first year.

The government accepted a proposal submitted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for establishing the centre in view of increased biotic pressure on forest habitats and increased population of monkeys.

The forest official noted that this created a serious man animal conflict situation both in the urban and rural areas. Both the Rhesus and Bonnet species of monkeys are causing disturbance in most of the villages and towns of the state.

"The problem is more severe in areas adjoining the forest, where human population has been increasing," he said in the proposal.

"Generation of more human waste and growing of crops like millet and groundnut attracts monkeys from adjoining forest areas, which, in turn, causes damage to agriculture."

The proposal pointed out the religious beliefs and value attached to monkeys prevent villagers from killing them or from taking other measures to control their population.

The municipalities and panchayats, which have been authorised to capture the monkeys and release them in forest areas with the help of forest officers, are unable to cope with the problem.

Hyderabad is estimated to have population of 2,000 monkeys.

--IANS

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