Monkey menace in Khordha; Efforts underway to tranquilise animals

A langur and a red-faced monkey were captured on Sunday after being tranquillized by a team of experts in Tangi area of Khordha district. The animals will be subsequently released in forest after necessary treatment.

The move to capture followed several incidents of monkey attacks in which over 10 persons were injured in the area in the past five to six days.

The forest department with the help of a tranquillizer team from Nandankanan zoo tranquillized the simians and sent them for treatment. 

The residents of Tangi area have been facing a tough time while facing troops of marauding monkeys. The spate of monkey attacks has left over 10 villagers injured. 

On being informed, a team from the forest department reached the spot. After taking stock of the situation, the experts decided to tranquillize the monkeys. Later with the help of a tranquillizing team from Nandankanan zoo, a langur and a red-faced monkey were tranquillized and sent to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment. 

Tangi ranger, Debasish Bhoi said efforts are on to tranquillize another rogue monkey. 

While narrating his encounter with a monkey, an injured villager said, “I was ironing my clothes when a monkey entered my room and went out not before inuring me.”

Ranger Bhoi said, “Their behaviour is getting changed due to the shortage of food in jungles. While searching for food, they are straying into human habitations and often get separated. We have been asking people to refrain from offering food items to them as it would become their habit.”