Karnataka   

A special bonding with monkeys

Caring for animals: S.K. Ramchandra Shetty offering food to monkeys at Chandravalli area in Chitradurga.

Chitradurga: At around 6.30 a.m., a large number of monkeys descend on the Chandravalli area, which is crowded with joggers and people on their morning walk, marking the arrival of S.K. Ramchandra Shetty.

For over a decade, Mr. Shetty has developed a special bonding with the monkeys and brings them food and other items every day.

A coffee merchant, the 67-year-old animal lover says that feeding animals gives him satisfaction.

He said that he, along with his wife, used to come for morning walk to Chandravalli about 10 years ago. “I saw these monkeys, that were perhaps hungry, eating whatever they found edible. I brought them some food the next day, which later became a routine,” he said.

Mr. Shetty, who arrives with a container, ensures that the monkeys get a variety of food every day. The food ranges from fruits to vegetables to sweets such as jalebi. On festivals, he brings the monkeys puddings, payasa or holige.

“Though several people come here everyday, we have no idea how the monkeys identify only this person. They climb down as soon as they see Mr. Shetty coming on his motorcycle,” said Chandrashekhar, a jogger.

Mr. Shetty said that in the past 10 years, he missed this routine only about eight times when he was either out of station or not well. “In case I fail to visit personally, I ensure to give the container to somebody else so that the monkeys do not miss their food,” he said.

Spending about Rs. 50 a day on food for over 60 monkeys, he plans and prepares the food a day in advance. Mr. Shetty said that he would continue the work till his health permits.

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