Monkeys in state different from those outside

Monkeys in state different from those outside
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 12
Monkeys in the state look different from simians in the rest of the country, as they have stopped using their cheek pouches. The simians found outside the state have chubby cheeks, but in Jammu and Kashmir, they have slim cheeks.

“A cheek pouch is inside the mouth of every monkey for storing food. This is a survival technique. But the monkeys here have stopped using this pouch, which has made them look slimmer,” said Upinder Pachnanda, Chief Forest Conservator (Wildlife) of Jammu division.

Confirming the change in the face of simians found here, Pachnanda said they had recently conducted a survey in this regard, wherein they had found that monkeys had stopped using their cheek pouches, which was a unique characteristic of the animal.

“A majority of people coming to the state feed monkeys on roadsides, which has changed the habit of monkeys. Now, monkeys don’t store food in their cheek pouch, because whenever they need food, they come on the road and get it easily,” maintained Pachnanda, adding that this illegal act being committed by humans was changing the food habit of the wild animal.

He added that though the department was trying its best to keep a check on the illegal practice of feeding monkeys, the problem was persisting.

About the department’s failure in controlling it, he cited the shortage of manpower and lack of funds as the main reasons. “We have appealed to the public not to feed these animals, by installing a number of boards on the roadsides, but the practice is going unabated. We have the power to penalise violators, but the lack of staff is proving a major hurdle,” Pachnanda added.

The department was keen to solve the problem, but it would take a long time, he said.