A familiar picture comes to mind when we hear “human-primate relationship”—a monkey grabbing a banana from a human hand on a road or a tourist site. Let’s dig deeper into this picture.

Once occupying the faraway lush green forest lands, primates are now parading major Indian cities. Of the 22 primate species inhabiting India, a few—Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and Gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus)—have adapted to human-dominated landscapes exceptionally well. They have established themselves so successfully in urban areas that ecologists refer to them as “commensal” primates.

Rhesus macaques are hardy, adaptable species, but this adaptability has, unfortunately, not proven beneficial for the animal! Trying to avail food items through raiding and snatching, these monkeys face the wrath of humans and are often persecuted as “menace-causing”. Conflicts between humans and monkeys have become a serious concern amongst scientists, managers, and policymakers.

Monkeys – sacred or scorned?

Sharing ecological and social spaces has resulted in a rather unusual relationship between humans and primates. Primates play a significant role in cultural, religious, and scientific aspects. However, the relationship isn’t as smooth as expected—it takes as many turns as one can expect—ranging from companionship to conflict.

Monkeys hold a significant reputation in Hindu mythology as people associate them with the Monkey-God, Hanuman. As a result, monkeys are found in high densities around temples. People reckon it holy to feed monkeys with fruits at religious sites, especially bananas. Weaving monkeys in mythology has undoubtedly enhanced the ability of humans to tolerate the species.

Despite the religious connotations and positive attitude that comes along, the cases of human-primate conflict have been on the rise. These urban adapters are considered pests in cities like Delhi and Agra. Such love-hate relationship has become a part of daily life in several cities.

People illegally keeping primates as pets also poses challenges to the species’ survival and coexistence. While young primates may seem something to be gushed over, humans cannot keep up and tend to them once they grow old. Locals often buy these older (and much more aggressive) monkeys to make monetary benefits. They train these primates to beg for alms or perform tricks to entertain tourists. Such activities occur despite Rhesus macaques and other primates’ protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Capturing monkeys and using them for display and entertainment is banned and a jailable offence under the law of the land.

Why do monkeys choose cities as their haven?

Monkeys spend a significant amount of time foraging for food in the wild, but they need not walk the extra mile in cities due to human interference. They instead find it easier to raid garbage bins and rely on being fed by humans.

To our surprise, research shows that this provisioned food does not do much good for the animal – it causes hormonal imbalance, increases stress and aggression, and modifies their behaviour and reproductive patterns. This can commonly be termed as “urban wildlife syndrome”.

Now, one would cleverly point out how feeding wildlife is illegal. Yes, it is! The Delhi High Court even issued an order not to feed monkeys in public areas a few years ago. But people still do it for religious purposes, their “care” for animals, sympathy, and even fear.

When these habituated monkeys are not provided with food, they turn aggressive at times, leading to conflict situations. They are considered to “wreak havoc”, especially in cities of northern India, including Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla. Nearly 1,800 annual cases of monkey bites are reported in the capital city alone.

The lack of a natural predator in cities also contributes to the escalating primate population. Endless tales of monkeys encroaching, destroying properties, and even stealing food from people’s homes come to light. Inefficient garbage and waste disposal systems offer the species ample leftover food. Spending more time waiting for food near the roads even leads to higher chances of them getting into vehicular collisions.

To what do we owe this change?

According to the last count, there were 50 million monkeys in the country. Deforestation, agriculture, loss of natural resources, and urbanisation lead to ever-increasing encroachment of wild habitats. India’s urbanised blocks are slowly replacing the natural habitat. Following this, monkeys have moved away from their natural environments and made their way into human settlements. This worrisome shift ultimately enhances the chances of conflict between humans and wildlife.

Do we have any solution to this havoc?

For years, humans hailed the natural solution of bringing langurs to maraud Rhesus macaques. But ever since the practice has been objected upon by wildlife activists and prohibited during an Environment Ministry ruling, other measures have been tested.

People even tried methods that involved capturing them from a problematic area and releasing them elsewhere. Instead of resolving the conflict, this leads to the shift of conflict in newer regions. Surgical sterilisation of monkeys to control their population has also been in the talks for years. However, in practice, the method has proven to be ineffective.

What can you do?

We have a simple piece of advice—the next time you see a monkey seeking food, DO NOT FEED THEM! This is the best you could do for yourself and the wildlife. Educate yourself and those around you. The only ethical ways to deal with this issue are imposing better animal management techniques and educating oneself.

The Wildlife SOS 24-hour helpline provides aid to distressed animals, including Rhesus monkeys and Gray langurs. Over the years, the NGO’s Rapid Response Unit has rescued several monkeys that have fallen victim to road accidents, trapping, and electrocution. The organisation also rescues orphaned baby monkeys and provide them with specialised treatment and care.

Wildlife SOS emergency rescue helplines:

Delhi NCR: +91-9871963535

Agra & Mathura in Uttar Pradesh: +91-9917109666

Vadodara, Gujarat: +91-9825011117

Jammu & Kashmir: +91-7006692300, +91-9419778280

If you come across any wild animal in distress, please alert our rescue team on these numbers as soon as possible!

**

Wildlife SOS (WSOS) is a non-profit charity established in 1998 with the primary objective of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress across India. They actively run wildlife and nature protection projects to promote conservation, combat poaching & illegal wildlife trade.

This article is a guest column reflecting the author’s opinions and does not necessarily represent the official views of The Weather Channel.