Monkey nation: Nepal's rural exodus driven by primate menace and political parallels

Rural Nepal faces a growing crisis as an overwhelming monkey population devastates crops and forces entire communities to abandon their homes. In Gorkha, a village once vibrant now consists of only three households, its inhabitants having fled the relentless destruction wrought by monkeys. This "monkey menace" is not confined to one area; it plagues the hilly regions across the country, compelling thousands to migrate each year.

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I am worried my parents will be mauled by monkeys one of these days.

The monkeys, estimated to number around 500,000, are described as highly organized, aggressive, and persistent. They do not merely wait for fruits to ripen but actively destroy newly planted maize, uproot vegetable saplings, and even raid kitchens for stored grain. Attempts by local governments to mitigate the problem, such as planting fruit trees or hiring temporary guards, have proven futile. One local body even declared a public holiday solely for chasing the animals. Citizens have resorted to cutting down their own trees to deny the monkeys launching points, yet the animals continue to adapt, disrupt, and destroy.

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The monkey menace has been a problem for most of Nepal’s hills for years now. Entire settlements are emptying out.

The article extends this critique beyond the primates, drawing a stark parallel between the monkeys' behavior and that of Nepali politicians. It argues that human beings, like monkeys, share a nature of disruption and destruction, often failing to empathize with the plight of others and prioritizing self-interest. This "primal behavior" is seen as most evident in governance, particularly since the end of the Maoist conflict. Leaders are characterized as operating on impulse, mirroring the "alpha-male dominance" and territorial aggression of monkeys, leading to chaotic parliamentary sessions and the plundering of state resources.

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They adapt, they disrupt and they destroy livelihoods.