Akhnoor now free from monkey menace

Akhnoor now free from monkey menace Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 1
The services of experts hired from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to solve the years old problem of the growing number of monkeys in Akhnoor subdivision have brought good results.
The growing monkey menace in the area had caused huge losses to the farmers. Keeping it in view, the State Wildlife Protection Department had hired some experts who have got success in catching as many as 425 monkeys in the past 10 days.
Talking to The Tribune, Mohammad Yamin, who was given this task to make the area free from monkey menace, said: “We were six persons in the team and charged the department Rs 350 for catching one monkey.”Yamin added: “We reached here on October 19 and were told to make the area free from monkeys. Monkeys living in this area were first caught up and then we let them free in forests.” Sushma Chauhan, SDM, Akhnoor, said: “Yes, we took the initiative to make the area free from the menace. The experts from UP were called for this purpose who successfully caught the monkeys.”
The residents of the area have also appreciated the initiative taken by the administration.
“Monkeys frequently used to come to our fields and houses for the past several years. Now, the area has been made free from the monkey menace,” said Sunil Sharma, a resident of Akhnoor, adding: “The departments concerned should take some steps in advance so that the monkeys do not return to this area”.