As Bengaluru’s summer heat intensifies and water crisis, monkeys are seeking refuge, shelter, and sustenance in residential areas and skyscrapers. The city’s civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has been inundated with complaints about monkeys invading homes in search of food and water, stealing food from people, and even attacking them.

The Underlying Causes

Senior officials from the Karnataka Forest Department and BBMP have provided insights into the root cause and potential solutions. According to Ravindra Kumar N, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru Urban, the primary problem is the city’s transformation from a green oasis to a concrete jungle. He compares this to the classic man-animal conflict situations seen with leopards and elephants.

Bengaluru is grappling with a severe water shortage, prompting Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, to announce that the state government is taking control of all city borewells and warning residents against the misuse of water tankers. He also revealed plans to assume control of private water tankers in Bengaluru to address the water scarcity.

Water crisis
Image : The Economic Times

In a recent media interaction, Shivakumar stated that the government has devised a solution to the crisis. A ‘war room’ has been established to monitor the situation in real time, with senior officials and Shivakumar himself overseeing the situation daily.

Shivakumar issued a stern warning to water tanker owners in the state, stating that their tankers would be confiscated if they failed to register with the authorities by the March 7 deadline. He noted that only 10% of the total 3,500 water tankers in Bengaluru city, or 219 tankers, have registered with the authorities.

Private water tankers are currently charging between Rs 500 to Rs 2000 per tanker. Shivakumar indicated that the authorities would negotiate with the Association to set a standard price.

A crucial meeting was convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with Shivakumar, cabinet ministers, other officials, and department secretaries, to discuss the drinking water shortage in Bengaluru. Officials were directed to use unused milk tankers for water supply and to immediately activate all non-operational drinking water centres.

As per a government assessment conducted on February 10, some 7,082 villages across Karnataka and 1,193 wards, including those in Bengaluru Urban district, are at risk of a drinking water crisis in the upcoming months due to the expected severity of this year’s summer. The revenue department’s report identified the highest number of vulnerable villages in Tumakuru district (746) and wards in Uttara Kannada. In Bengaluru Urban district, 174 villages and 120 wards were identified as vulnerable.

In the meantime, a local society has advised residents to monitor water leakage from pipes and refrain from using water for cleaning purposes. Those who keep pots were advised to place them in a container to prevent water leakage.

Ravindra explains that the monkeys’ natural habitat has been replaced by high-rise buildings, forcing them to enter homes out of hunger. He also notes that monkeys, like dogs, cats, and horses, are loyal creatures. If they are captured and released into the forest, they tend to return to places where they found food or people who cared for them. He warns that monkeys can be quite aggressive and are capable of inflicting serious bites that require immediate medical attention.

BBMP’s Role

When the forest department receives such complaints, it refers them to the BBMP for action. A dedicated forest official is attached to the BBMP to help resolve the issue. In 2022, the Karnataka High Court directed the BBMP to find ways to control the monkey menace, leading to the establishment of a helpline number, 1526.

Advice for Residents

BLG Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests at BBMP, advises residents to feed monkeys in designated areas rather than on windowsills or balconies. He suggests that the monkey problem can be managed at the apartment level with the help of security personnel. The BBMP steps in when the situation becomes uncontrollable, and the animal needs to be captured due to violent behavior.

Solar-powered fences around the compound, grills or nets, and stuffed toys of ferocious-looking animals like bulldogs or tigers can deter monkeys. Another effective solution is placing life-size cardboard cutouts of langurs at specific areas where the monkeys gather. This can scare them away, as both the Bonnet Macaque found in Bengaluru and the Rhesus Macaque found in the Delhi region react similarly to langurs.

Residents have shared their experiences with the monkey menace. Prakruthi Prasad, a resident of Domlur area of East Bengaluru, and Sameera Shukoor, a resident of North Bengaluru’s Horamavu, both had distressing encounters with monkeys invading their homes. They emphasize the need for measures to prevent such incidents and protect residents from potential harm.

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