Mussoorie, Majid Ali, a trained monkey catcher, and his expert young men win hearts in Mussoorie as they grapple with the unchecked monkey menace. ‘Our tender was approved by the Mussoorie Municipality earlier this year!’ says Majid Ali, as he sets out to control the simian menace.
Sagar and Ravinder, employees of the Mussoorie Municipality accompany Majid’s team through town trapping rhesus monkeys. ‘We do our very best in trying not to hurt or injure them,’ says Ravinder.
Majid tells me: “The people of Mussoorie had had enough of monkey menace and complained to the city Chairman, who approached us. The monkeys have become aggressive, as there is not enough to eat. Space too is an issue and they have begun to attack people, block roads and raid crops and houses.”
The team takes turn to visit one of the thirteen wards spread across the town in their van. Their simple weapons are peanuts, bananas and channa, armed with sticks that they use just to scare off the monkeys geared up to attack their trappers. Once the cages are in place, like trained marksmen, the members divide and lure as many rhesus monkeys the 6 feet x 4 feet cage can hold. The work lasts over 2-3 hours a day.
Over the past couple of months, Majid has trapped close to 500 rhesus monkeys from the hill station. Accompanied by Mussoorie Forest Officials, the monkeys are taken to Chidiyapur, near the Mohand Forest where a group of veterinary doctors have set up camps to sterilize these monkeys.
As local resident Sateshwari puts it, “ This is a blessing! These monkeys had become dangerous as they were attacking women and children. Tearing clothes, destroying flower beds and roof tops.”
With another three months to go before the year ends, the number of rhesus monkeys trapped and sterilized from the hill-station will definitely go up, giving momentary relief to its residents.
