Rowdy monkey captured by forest personnel

Kendrapara: A rowdy monkey that had injured over sixty school students bringing classroom teaching to a halt at a remote village in Kendrapara district, was captured by forest personnel today after a week-long frantic search operation but not before two of the personnel were injured, officials said.

The unruly monkey had injured over 200 residents in Naladiasasana village. The monkey had targeted children and elderly persons. Authorities of the government-run Grameswar Vidyapitha primary school were forced to suspend classes as the monkey had gone on a biting spree targeting the school children, sources said.

"The unruly male monkey had literally held the villagers to hostage. After complaints poured in, wildlife officials of Cuttack territorial forest division got to the act," said Ashok Kumar Jena, Forest Eange Officer, Cuttack Territorial forest division.

"The monkey was captured without causing it physical harm. The monkey was later released in the wild in a forest area of Jajpur district. It has provided relief to panic stricken villagers. In their attempt to free the village from simian menace, at least two forest personnel were injured," he said.

Initially it was attempted to cage the monkey. With curious onlookers enjoying the sight, the monkey experts tried every possible trick. They offered banana and fruits but to no avail. Finally, tranquilizing rubber bullets did the trick, forest officials said.

"Since past fortnight, there was drop in attendance in schools located in the village due to monkey menace. During a visit to the village last week, I found the villagers in a state of panic," said G C Pati, district inspector of schools.

Apart from launching attack on humans, the itinerant marauders ravaged crops and vegetable cultivation at regular intervals.