A monkey, which is on an attacking-spree in the outlying area of Puducherry has led the members in the Legislative Assembly to debate a solution to the man-animal conflict, with Kalapet Constituency MLA P.M.L. Kalyanasundaram asking the government to spell out its strategy.
Answering his questions, Electricity and Forests Minister T. Thiagarajan has said the elusive monkey which attacked and bit several residents in the city suburb would be caught soon.
There is no end to the horror stories among residents of Annai Nagar at Alankuppam. The victims range from infants to a 90-year-old woman. The monkey has attacked more than 30 people and mauled more than a dozen pet animals in around 2 years at Annai Nagar and neighbouring Rayattai of the Vanur taluk in Villupuram.
A year-and-a-half old baby, Kavya, was bitten twice in recent months when she was at home.
Mr. Kalyanasundaram also alleged that the public has been complaining for the last three years and wanted to know the steps taken by government to curb the menace.
Replying to the queries, the Minister said, “The government is aware of the situation. The Department of Forests and Wildlife has constituted a separate committee of staffs. Very soon, the monkey will be caught.” He also said the personnel of the Department of Forests and Wildlife set traps and tried to use the tranquilliser, but the monkey has not been caught. Since January 2014, staff of the department formed a separate team, he said.
They have been camping 24 hours in the area to catch the monkey in coordination with the Villupuram Forest Department by adopting the conventional method.
Forest Department officials and villagers say the alpha male monkey is quite intelligent and has escaped being caught several times despite efforts by both State officials.
Efforts to nab the monkey using a trap and tranquilliser were stepped up in July, following which the monkey had been keeping away.