The state government’s move to sterilise monkeys in Kangra district has claimed the lives of about 700 monkeys. The poor animals are losing their lives due to poor upkeep and unprofessional handling in captivity.
The high mortality rate of monkeys at the Gopalpur sterilisation centre of the Wildlife Department has evoked criticism from animal activists. The activists alleged that the Wildlife Department was violating provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act by meting out such a treatment to monkeys being brought here for sterilisation.
Sources in Gopalpur told The Tribune that wildlife officials were earlier burying dead monkeys at the sterilisation centre. However, after religious advice, they were now cremating them.
Villagers said on condition of anonymity that they had repeatedly sought the shifting of the centre from the area. They had complained against the brutal treatment being meted out to monkeys brought to the sterilisation centre.
A visit to the centre revealed that many monkeys had been locked in small cages. In some cages, monkeys were lying dead. Stains of blood could be seen in other cages due to sterilization procedures.
Satish Gupta, DFO, Wildlife, who is the in charge of the sterilisation centre, admitted to the death of monkeys. He, however, claimed that most of the deaths of monkeys were being caused due to mishandling by people who were delivering them to the Forest Department.
The government had announced a reward of Rs 500 for anyone who caught and brought a monkey to the Wildlife Department. Due to this, many people were catching monkeys. After catching monkeys, they kept them unfed for many days. Monkeys were already in a poor state when they were handed over to the Wildlife Department. This caused mortality at the sterilisation centre, he said.
Vijay Bharti, the veterinarian who carries out sterilisation operations at Gopalpur, admitted that there was a mortality rate of about 6 per cent in monkeys being brought to the centre. He, however, said the mortality rate due to sterilisation was just about 1 per cent. Even in that 1 per cent, other conditions in which monkeys were brought to the centre were responsible for the deaths.
He claimed that the centre had the facility to house just 170 monkeys. However, generally at any given point of time there were about 400 monkeys at the centre. Some monkeys might have also died due to overcrowding and trauma in cages. The doctor claimed that most deaths at the centre were pre-operative rather than post-operative.
The sources said sterilisation of monkeys was being carried out in an unscientific manner. According to statistics, there are about 35,000 monkeys in Kangra district. The centre at Gopalpur alone claims to have carried out the sterilisation of 11,000 monkeys.
No comments:
Post a Comment