Reconsider relocation of monkeys to NE: Animal rights body to

An animal rights body has urged the Himachal Pradesh government to reconsider its reported plans to relocate monkeys to Northeastern states owing to possible injury and lethal effects involved in their capture and transportation.
Humane Society International-India said it has learnt through reports that the Himachal Pradesh government is planning to relocate rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from within the state to a few states in the north-east in a bid to minimise the menace.
"While such translocation may be allowed for scientific management of a species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, studies show that translocation of monkeys is not a humane and effective method of dealing with human-monkey conflict and could lead to increased conflict," it said in a letter to the HP Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

It said that the Wildlife Institute of India has recently taken up a project to implement sterilisation of monkeys using immuno-contraception--a method that employs the immune system of an animal to create contraception.
The HSI India said it recommends this technique as a humane solution for dealing with the over-population of rhesus macaques in your state.
"With due consideration of the possible lethal effects of capture, caging and a long journey from Himachal Pradesh to northeast Indian states on the monkeys from your state, we strongly urge you to reconsider your plans of translocation.
"We would be happy to work with you to figure out alternate measures for human-monkey conflict mitigation in your state, including proper garbage disposal, increased public education and possible trails for monkey immuno-contraception," the letter said.

Referring to a 2014 article 'Mitigating Human-Animal Conflict in India--Participatory Approaches', the HSI-India said while translocation is often resorted to as a solution for conflict, it has been noticed that the translocation of animals may aggravate the issue, whether it is monkeys, leopards or even snakes.