Shimla
Anurag Singh Thakur raised the issue of rising monkey attacks in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, calling it a serious national crisis and demanding a comprehensive action plan from the central government.
Highlighting the scale of the problem in Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said that over 70,000 hectares of cultivable land have been abandoned by farmers due to monkey attacks. He noted that the state suffers annual crop losses exceeding ₹500 crore, while total losses between 2017 and 2024 have reached around ₹2,200 crore.
He also raised concerns about public safety, stating that in some districts, nearly 10 people are bitten by monkeys daily, with children, women, and the elderly being the most affected. The situation, he said, has created fear and stress among residents in affected areas.
Thakur attributed the growing crisis to multiple factors, including the 1978 ban on monkey export, deforestation, and a decline in natural predators, which have allowed monkey populations to grow unchecked.
Calling for urgent intervention, he urged the government to formulate a National Action Plan on Human-Monkey Conflict. He recommended measures such as:
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Mass sterilization and immunocontraception for population control
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Habitat restoration to reduce human-animal conflict
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A standard compensation system for farmers facing crop losses
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Community-based crop protection mechanisms at the grassroots level
He also stressed the need for dedicated funding and clear guidelines for states, saying the issue goes beyond state boundaries and requires a coordinated national response.
The BJP MP emphasized that the monkey menace is no longer a local issue but a nationwide challenge that demands immediate, scientific, and humane solutions.
