Monkey, stray animal menace wreaks havoc in Kangra district

The monkey and stray animal menace in Kangra district has been a persistent problem for years, yet the government has failed to address it effectively. Farmers have consistently raised the issue with state officials and political parties during elections, protesting the government’s inability to resolve the problem. Monkeys and stray animals destroy crops across Kangra and other parts of Himachal Pradesh, causing annual losses of approximately Rs 500 crore. Many farmers in the lower areas of Kangra have abandoned their fields, leaving hundreds of acres barren due to these threats.

Despite repeated protests and memorandums submitted to the Chief Minister and cabinet colleagues, the issue remains unresolved. A sterilisation programme for monkeys was initiated a few years ago but faltered due to poor governance, lack of administrative will, financial constraints, and inadequate infrastructure. The Forest Department, tasked with implementing the program, failed to take serious action. As a result, the monkey population has doubled over the past decade.

In 2010-11, the state government approved the culling of crop-damaging monkeys, but a court-imposed stay order halted the process. Currently, over five lakh monkeys and stray animals pose significant challenges to around 3,000 panchayats in the state. This growing problem has also endangered public safety.

In the past five years, aggressive monkeys have injured around 3,000 people, with 50 fatalities reported. Mischievous monkeys have become a nuisance in urban and rural areas, snatching handbags, stealing food, medicines, and even files from government offices. Women and schoolchildren have been particularly vulnerable to attacks. The continued lack of effective measures has left farmers and residents in distress. Without a comprehensive, well-executed plan to control the monkey and stray animal population, both agriculture and public safety will remain under threat in Himachal Pradesh.