Kerala plans ABC programme for ‘vulnerable' Bonnet macaque to address conflict issues
Kochi: The Kerala forest department is set to implement an Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for Bonnet macaque primates, which are classified as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List, to address conflicts with humans.
As part of it, a consultation meeting of experts was held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
In conjunction with the ABC programme, the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has started a study to assess the population of Bonnet macaque primates in forest fringes and human habitats in Kerala. The study is part of one of the 10 missions conceived by the forest department to address human-animal conflicts, specifically focusing on human-monkey conflicts.
The forest department notes that more primates are found in markets based in towns, tourism spots and agricultural fields. "We have raised the primate issue and the need to conduct the ABC programme with the ministry of environment and forests and climate change. They have asked us to come up with a consultation report. In many parts of Kerala, especially in Wayanad, conflicts with primates are reported in large numbers.
The issue in tourism spots is due to tourists feeding the primates. Despite the fault lying with humans, people don't understand it," said a department source.
Studies have shown that feeding wildlife, including primates, exacerbates conflict incidents, behavioural issues, disease transmission, health issues for the animals and other adverse implications like road kills. Bonnet macaque was classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN in 2015 due to its population decline.
"As per old Tamil literature, which is over 3,000 years old, Bonnet macaque used to live in human landscapes. In some places, their concentration is high, while in others, there is occasional crop raiding. The question is whether these primates are typical forest species or not. Their population is less in forests and they are not seen in deep forests. They are mostly seen in forest fringes and human habitats. Capture, sterilisation and translocation of the primates are not possible since a study found that they return to their old location," said KFRI wildlife biology department head Peroth Balakrishnan.
A study carried out in Wayanad recommended that authorities impose a legal ban on public feeding of the Bonnet macaque and implement proper waste management. Since the species has been included in the vulnerable classification based on a study conducted in Karnataka, the govt will need to consider conservation aspects when taking up the ABC programme.
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