In yet another instance of man-animal conflict, residents of Teliamura are in peril owing to monkey menace. Teliamura and adjacent Kalyanpur sub-divisions are known for frequent wild elephant invasion into villages which resulted in loss of crops, properties and sometimes human lives.
Even as monkey menace is not as dangerous as elephant trouble, people of Teliamura especially, residents of Santinagar, Jaynagarand Rajnagar areas under Teliamura Forest department are the worst victims of frenzied monkeys.
People are unable to move out of their houses and are forced to stay indoors keeping the doors and windows shut. School-going children often come under attack.
Monkeys attempt to snatch away food from people as a result walking along the road is not safe even for adults. Many people had to take anti-rabies vaccines.
With the population of monkeys rapidly increasing, the situation is fast becoming worse for people living in Teliamura.
However, the Forest Department is allegedly playing the role of a mute spectator and no effort has been made to combat the growing monkey menace.
People vented anger at the alleged negligence of the Forest department in tackling the desperate monkeys.
Several pleas seeking the intervention of the Forest Department and local MLA turned futile, Teliamura people alleged.
The Forest Department personnel are alleged to be apathetic to the plight of the common people. The Forest Range officer of Teliamura is also reported to be reluctant to make any comments relating to the Forest Department’s initiatives to tackle the problem.
Even as no major mishap has occurred, so far – the situation is a matter of deep concern and the concerned authorities need to come out with a comprehensive plan to combat the frenzied monkeys, opined the residents of Santinagar.
According to the expert the root problem of man-animal conflicts is shrinking natural habitat of animals in forest area and scarcity of food due to unabated tree felling by timber smugglers.