Monkeys raid Shariatpur human habitats in droves in search of food

SHARIATPUR, June 15: Monkeys in their thousands roam human settlements in parts of Shariatpur district in desperate search of food.

Locals described waning natural sources to be the main cause behind the animals straying into human settlements in large numbers.

Since early morning, numerous monkeys run around the localities. Sometimes they jump on tin roofs in hope of food, sometimes at people's doorsteps. Whenever they get a chance, they enter houses and search for food.

Sometimes they break away and snatch food from children's hands. In this way, some groups of monkeys have become a cause of annoyance for the locals in their desire for food day after day.

However, not seeing any way out, people have adapted to such behavior of the animals. They give them food according to their ability. However, it is not enough for their living.

Locals demand that the government make arrangement of food as well as care for the stray monkeys; although the departments concerned have assured that they would take effective steps in this regard.

According to the local administration, at least 6,000 monkeys live in Palpara, Madhupur and Pachalia areas of Dingamanik Kartikpur in Naria upazila and neighboring upazila Bhederganj.

Since these areas have a lot of natural vegetation, groups of monkeys have made their home for 50 years. They live around various trees and old buildings. Once there were a lot of fruit trees in these areas. And the monkeys used to live by eating fruits of these trees.

However, due to natural disasters and various other reasons, the number of fruit trees has decreased, leading to a severe food crisis for monkeys. As a result, the monkeys often attack people's homes due to lack of sufficient food.

They snatch food left to dry in house yards, food kept in kitchens and even food from hands of children. This leads to occasional conflicts between monkeys and humans.

People are fed up with the monkeys and keep the doors and windows of their houses closed all the time. However, some people, thinking about these helpless animals, give them food, but it is negligible.

In addition to planting enough fruit trees for the monkeys soon, the locals are constantly demanding food from the government.

Recently, during a field visit to Kartikpur area, it was seen that groups of monkeys were sitting on various trees and in the sheds of houses very close to people.

Whenever they get a chance, they try to enter the houses through doors and windows. Some monkeys are seen leaping into bushes in search of food. In some houses, people are seen giving bananas and curd to the monkeys.

Local shopkeeper Mir Hossain Sardar said, "At least 5,000 monkeys live in the areas along with us. They have been living in these areas for at least 50 years. However, no one from the administration has taken notice of the monkeys so far."

"We, the locals, feed them. When the food crisis is severe, the monkeys enter our houses and shops. If the government had arranged food for the monkeys, perhaps their hunger would have reduced to some extent," he added.

When asked, Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Qayyum Khan said, "Due to the increasing population day by day, there has been a food crisis for the monkeys. That is why the monkeys often raid homes. Locals sometimes feed them."

"In the meantime, the upazila administration has taken a decision to save the monkeys. So that the monkeys do not suffer from hunger, we will undertake a project for them. If necessary, we will rehabilitate the animals by creating a safe habitat for them on some special land."

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