Date:17/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121705032000.htm

National

Outside Lucknow, for an `ashram' for monkeys

LUCKNOW, DEC. 16. The Uttar Pradesh Government has allocated Rs. 5 lakhs to counter the monkey menace in this capital city. ``The State Government has agreed, in principle, to catch the monkeys. Tenders have been invited from professionals to catch them,'' the Chief Wildlife Warden, M. Ahsan, said today.

The monkeys will initially be kept in cages in the city zoo and shifted outside the city once their number crosses 15. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has cleared a proposal by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to create a ``monkey ashram'' on the outskirts. Six bighas of land have been earmarked at Bhadruk for `Prani Lok'.

The NGO will catch monkeys from residential areas with the help of trained people. Male and female monkeys will be kept in separate cages. The healthier ones will be released into the forest.

The NGO has sought aid from the Centre to treat sick monkeys.

Several areas of the State are plagued by the monkey menace. The Chief Minister's official residence was attacked by a group of monkeys, which damaged plants before being driven away. — UNI