New Chapter in the War on Monkeys
Indian state wants jobless youths to sterilise monkeys.
Fri Jan 4, 2:30 AM
NEW DELHI (AFP) - A northern Indian state says it will train unemployed youths to sterilise monkeys in a drive to check the population of simians blamed for large-scale crop destruction.
The youth will be trained to capture and sterilise thousands of monkeys in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, its government said in a statement.
The sterilisation drive would take place on a "war footing" to provide relief to farmers, some of whom have abandoned their land after the animals destroyed crops, the government said.
Last year, thousands of farmers gathered outside the state legislature demanding action.
There are more than 300,000 monkeys in the state, according to government figures. Rampaging monkeys have sparked concern in other Indian states too.
In October, the deputy mayor of Indian capital New Delhi died after falling from a balcony as he tried to chase monkeys away.
Wildlife experts say monkeys come into conflict with humans when their natural habitat in forests is destroyed.
India's Hindus revere the animals as an incarnation of monkey god Hanuman
