At least 15 monkeys died today after consuming rat poison, mistaking it for food in the Manikpur area of the district.
Local forest department officials said a hawker was passing on village road with his wares of rat poison to sell in the neighbouring areas, when a troop of monkeys pounced on him mistaking the poison packets for food.
"The frightened hawker left his wares and fled the spot. The monkeys then tore off the packets and consumed the poison, which killed them. Local residents buried 13 of them before we reached the spot. We have recovered two dead monkeys and a post mortem will be conducted," said Forest Range Officer Shyamal Mukherjee.
