TNR News Network
SHIMLA: Despite being a recurring issue in every election cycle, Himachal Pradesh’s monkey problem continues to spiral out of control. What once began as an agricultural nuisance has now become a serious public safety threat, with official records showing over 50 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries caused by monkey attacks in the last five years alone.
The latest incident occurred in Brao village near Rampur where a 65-year-old retired school teacher, Desh Lal Gautam, lost his life after falling from the roof of a four-storey building. According to the police, he was feeding birds early in the morning when he was suddenly attacked by a troop of monkeys. In an attempt to escape, he lost his balance and fell. He was declared dead at Khaneri Hospital in Rampur.
Local authorities, including DSP Chandrashekhar Kayath and DFO Gurharsh Singh, confirmed the incident and stated that monkey catchers have been called in to control the situation. However, residents say this is not an isolated case and the frequency and aggression of monkey attacks have increased, particularly in urban areas like Shimla.
Urban monkeys grow bolder, policy response weak
In Shimla, monkeys are not just a nuisance but they have become bold and aggressive, snatching food, damaging personal belongings and even attacking pedestrians. Recent cases include monkeys tearing up documents and currency notes after snatching women’s handbags.
Despite the ongoing sterilisation drive, which began in 2006 and has reportedly sterilised over 1,70,000 monkeys (about 51.4% of the estimated population), the situation remains largely unchanged. While sterilisation efforts have contributed to a 57% decline in monkey numbers from 2004 to 2020, the remaining monkey population — over 1.36 lakh — continues to adapt and thrive, especially in urban environments where they’ve learned to open packaged food and water bottles.
In response to public outcry, the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2023 had directed the state to consult the Animal Welfare Board and consider replicating the Andhra Pradesh model where the Tirupati temple authorities successfully controlled the monkey problem. The court also advised coordination with veterinary experts at CSK Agriculture University, Palampur. Yet, locals say little has changed on the ground.
Damage beyond human cost: Crops, livelihoods also hit
Beyond the threat to human life, monkeys and other wild animals are also causing massive agricultural losses. According to a report, Himachal Pradesh suffers an estimated Rs 500 crore loss in crops annually due to wildlife damage, with monkeys being the main culprits.
In earlier years, the government had declared monkeys as ‘vermin’ in certain areas, legally permitting culling. However, official records suggest not a single monkey has been killed under this policy.
With monkeys now growing more intelligent, adaptive and aggressive, residents across both urban and rural Himachal are calling for urgent and effective action. As one Shimla resident put it, “It’s not just an animal nuisance anymore but a public emergency that’s been ignored for far too long.”
