The monkeys of Delhi

 

The rest of the species have meekly caved in under the human pressure. But the rhesus macaque monkey holds the baton of rebellion with its red face and pink bottom. It’s now classified as an urban animal by the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department. It’s now the MCD’s duty to manage the simian problem just like they handle cats and dogs problems. As urban animals the rhesus monkeys can no longer hide under the protective umbrella of the Wildlife Protection Act.

However, they continue to enjoy respect under the mythological laws for being part of Lord Rama’s army in his fight against Ravan. The MCD (municipal corporation of Delhi) is sprucing up its monkey-catching drive by recruiting more monkey catchers. Despite paying an impressive INR 2500/monkey catch, the national capital has only ten monkey catchers.

The already smart monkey is even smarter now, shrewd and clever in fact. They know better than grabbing bananas from the trap cages. This much brain they possess. In any case there are millions of devout Hanuman followers who have enough bananas for them to avoid visiting the trap cages.

It was in 2007 when angry monkeys claimed a VIP casualty. The deputy mayor was attacked on his terrace. He fell from the roof and died of injuries.

Presently the MCD captures them and dumps them in Asola Bhatti region. But the Tughlakabad forest area hasn’t any boundaries. The rhesus loves its genetic look-alike and returns within a short span of time. The resident welfare associations demand sterilization to check their population. But who is to ordain human sterilization to checkmate our ever-increasing population?