Monkeys Invade Schools: Tenkasi Forest Division Issues Directives

The Tenkasi Forest Division has issued directives to educational institutions located near forest areas to manage monkey intrusions on their premises. An increase in monkey activity has been observed in and around schools and colleges situated along forest fringes and within natural monkey corridors. These primates, including the legally protected Bonnet Macaque, pose a challenge that requires careful management.

The Forest Division has outlined specific preventive measures for institutions. These include stringent campus cleanliness, effective solid waste management, and the use of monkey-proof waste containers. Educational institutions are advised to ensure that food is consumed only in designated closed areas like canteens and that all food-related waste is disposed of properly. All areas storing food, such as canteen kitchens and store rooms, must be secured with mesh or grills.

Institutions are further instructed to educate students and staff not to feed or provoke monkeys. In cases of aggressive behavior, prompt alerts to the Forest Department are necessary. The formation of institutional monitoring committees, comprising staff and students, is recommended to oversee the implementation of these control measures. The Tenkasi landscape's ecological sensitivity necessitates eco-friendly practices for both wildlife conservation and human safety.