Monkey sterilisation pilot begins in Diktel

Residents of Diktel, Nepal, have long grappled with the persistent problem of monkeys damaging crops and disrupting their daily lives. Finally, a concrete step is being taken as an expert team arrives to initiate a pilot program focused on monkey sterilization. This move is a direct response to years of local pleas for action and represents a significant development in wildlife management for the region.

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monkeys have been destroying crops and disrupting daily life in villages.

The issue reached a critical point last year when the mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, undertook a hunger strike in Kathmandu. His protest was a powerful call for a national policy to manage the growing monkey population and other wildlife. The strike concluded after a 16-point agreement was reached with key government ministers, signaling a commitment from the national level to address the problem.

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calling for a national policy to manage monkeys and other wildlife.

Following this agreement, a formal deal was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the municipality, and Tribhuvan University's Central Department of Zoology. This collaboration sets the stage for the current pilot program, which will involve preliminary monitoring and study by a six-member team. The team, led by joint secretary Bikash Shrestha, includes academic and veterinary experts. The initial field assessment will pave the way for sterilization and other control methods, with plans to expand the program nationwide if successful. This initiative is particularly meaningful for the local communities who have borne the brunt of wildlife-related crop destruction.

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After the pilot, the programme will be expanded to other parts of the country.