25 acres land allotted for 'monkey rescue centre' in Mathura

Mathura district ministration has decided to set up a monkey rescue centre here to overcome pestering simian menace in religious tourism belt of Mathura-Vrindavan, an official said. "In Chaumuhan block, 25 acres of land has been transferred to Forest department for preliminary work," Chief Executive Officer of Braj Tirth Vikas Parish Nndra Pratap said after briefing reporters following a day-long seminar held at Pandit Deen Dayal Veterinary University in Mathura on Monday.

district magistrate mentioned that land has been transferred to Forest department and also registered in revenue records, Pratap said. A decision has also been taken to shift ailing monkeys to rescue centre for ir rehabilitation, he said. District Forest Officer Mukesh Sharma said ted experts of animal husbandry have been asked to consider pros and cons of undertaking a tubectomy/vasectomy of monkeys. He said that after catching simians, y would be medically examined and if need be segregated, based on ir illness, to be taken for rehabilitation.

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Sharma said a draft proposal will be prepared and n sent for clearance from Union government. move to tackle long-standing issue is a brainchild of Mathura MP Hema Malini. During 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, Malini h promised Brijwasis, as locals are called, of getting rid of monkey menace. She h mooted idea of setting up a "monkey safari" but thing was done till w in her second term as an MP.

Talking to PTI on Monday over phone, actor-turned-parliamentarian said, "Once draft proposal is prepared, I will raise issue in Parliament. This is a serious subject and needs to be tackled at national level."

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Lok Sabha member, who was t present for seminar, said issue h to be dealt with in a humane way as far as possible. She said monkey menace needs to be tackled after an enumeration by district authorities revealed that re are 21,707 simians in belt. Yet, she clarified that sterilisation was t a long-term solution after discussing issue with fellow BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, who vised against move.

71-year-old said, "This is a religious and cultural issue. Opinions from many stakeholders have to be taken into consideration for which this seminar would provide solutions."

monkeys create trouble for locals as well as pilgrims by snatching ir spectacles, purses and packets of snacks etc. problem is very acute in Vrindavan and Mathura in areas including Barsana, Gokul and Govardhan close to temple areas.

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During a visit few years ago, former president Pranab Mukerjee h to be taken up to Banke Bihari temple in a closed car to escape simians while a former Mathura district magistrate lost her spectacles while coming out of temple. ditional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Agra Zone, K Praveen Rao told PTI, "Until w, concerted efforts have been me to resolve issue. w, time has come to look at both short-term and long-term solutions." officer said one of solutions that h been agreed upon was to catch hold of and release 2,000 monkeys in Bah area of Chambal region.

DFO Sharma said, "If proposed solutions turns out to be successful, model would n be coined as 'Mathura Model'. It would be taken up across Uttar Presh and also in or parts of country to eliminate monkey menace."

ted wildlife expert and scientists including representatives from Wildlife Institute of India, IVRI Izatnagar, Veterinary University Jabalpur, Deen Dayal Veterinary University Mathura, Wildlife SOS, Jim Corbett Natonal Park attended seminar. 

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