NAGERCOIL
The residents of Padmanabhapuram, particularly the areas surrounding the famous wooden palace, are living under the constant fear of monkeys for the last one and a half years.
Around 150 monkeys enter the residential areas from the reserve forests of Chungankadai hills and Velimalai every day in search of food and water. The worst-affected area was Eluppamoodu, said M. Satheesh, a painter living in Modakulam Street.
The monkeys targeted coconut and mango trees, and caused extensive damage to the groves.
Many residents said women were often scared by the monkeys. They were unable to open windows in their houses, as the monkeys often came in even through small gaps and took away food items.
“People should not offer food items to the monkeys if they want a permanent solution to the problem,” said District Forest Officer Vismiju Viswanathan.
He said forest department was taking quick action whenever complaints were received from the residents about monkey menace. The department staff kept cages at different places regularly to trap the animals and release them in the reserve forests.
During 2016-17, 296 monkeys were trapped at various places such as Udayagiri Fort, Aralvoimozhi and James College near Chungankadai, and released in reserve forests. Last year, 511 monkeys were trapped, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Monkey Rehabilitation and Sterilisation Centre established at Zero Point in Kalyal Reserve Forest is ready to start sterilisation and rehabilitation measures from April. A veterinary doctor from Tirunelveli district will visit the centre regularly to sterilise male monkeys to control their population.
