Wild fruit garden for monkey food courts, an initiative by FCRI in Telangana

The plan is to conserve at least 100 species of wild fruits favoured by monkeys and birds so that crop attacks by both creatures are minimised.

Monkeys are proving to be a growing menace in rural and urban areas of Telangana State. The Rhesus macaque, a common sight across the country, especially in hill stations and temple towns, has become a cause of concern in Telangana villages, as they raid crops and attack humans. Cities aren’t spared too, and instances of monkeys chasing and attacking tourists and devotees aren’t rare.

Conventional methods such as fixing traps and sterilisation have not yielded desired results and the problem has only worsened in recent times. Continuing destruction of their natural habitat has been a major factor, with the simians now attacking and destroying crops in several regions.

According to even conservative estimates, monkey raids are responsible for 15-20% of crop loss in Telangana.

And now, the State has come up with a novel initiative to curb the menace - Monkey Food Courts. Conceptualised by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, the project aims to provide a “buffet of sorts” for the apes to feast on by planting a large number of fruit trees on the fringes of forests and inside them, so that the animals do not venture into fields and human habitations.

The idea has been integrated into the State government’s flagship project for mass afforestation, Telangana Ku Haritha Haram (Green garland for Telangana).

The Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) has already started growing wild fruit-bearing trees on its premises at Mulugu village of Siddipet district, which falls within the purview of Chief Minister’s own constituency Gajwel.

FCRI was established in 2016 with the aim of promoting professional education and research in forestry and allied fields. Affiliated to the Sri Konda Laxman Bapuji Telangana State Horticultural University, the institution was allotted its own premises three years ago, and is nestled on 130 acres of verdant land. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.