NGO, Agra authority sign pact to address monkey menace

A Delhi-based wildlife conservation NGO has signed a pact with Agra Development Authority (ADA) to scientifically address monkey menace in India's most popular tourist destination.
Wildlife SOS, a Delhi based wildlife conservation organisation said as per the MoU signed yesterday, a detailed plan has been drawn up to tackle monkey-menace in the city.
The first stage of the plan involves an extensive survey of the primates in the area and at least 70 per cent will be vaccinated against rabies.
To reduce aggression amongst the animals, this will be followed up by sterilisation drives, which will also serve as a long-term solution to the growing population of the primates in the city, the statement said.

A statement by Wildlife SoS said that there was a growing number of incidents involving monkeys, including monkey bites and attacks, on tourists and residents.
"Not only are tourists and public impacted by the monkey bites but the possibility of zoonotic disease spread through bites such as rabies is a real concern," a statement quoting ADA said.

The initial stage of the project is expected to be completed in a year with the creation of a rapid response unit and infrastructure for holding and treating the monkeys (inoculation and sterilisation).
The project is slated to take off 6 weeks from the date of signing of the MOU, at which point surveys of the monkey troops and identification of high conflict zones will begin, followed by trapping of identified monkey troops.

"We are confident that this will be a scientific and pragmatic solution to help increase the tolerance of people and also resolve human-primate conflict in Agra city. This can also serve as a model to emulate in other cities that have similar conflict situations," Geeta Seshamani, co-founder, Wildlife SOS, said.