News
Government to create monkey island on Randenigala reservoir
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
The government is to launch a pilot project to relocate macaque monkeys to an island located within the Randenigala reservoir.
Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta told the Sunday Times that they are in the initial stages of the project.
According to him the proposal had been made to the Ministry of Agriculture and approval had been obtained. He said preliminary studies are being carried out while authorities are taking required action.
Jagath Manuwarna
The pilot project will examine if the translocation of monkeys could be practically done, and whether it could be a solution for the monkey problem. The project is separate from the animal census conducted recently.
The 200-acre island situated on the Randenigala reservoir has been designated and an electric fence is to be set up around the island to prevent the monkeys from escaping. However, environmental experts have expressed concerns that the area does not have sufficient edible fruits for their consumption.
Water sources are required to be set up and food will have to be provided to the animals.
NPP parliamentarian Jagath Manuwarna, who provides political direction for the initiative, said the Department of Wildlife has provided approval for the pilot project under conditions.
He added that they have to study how many animals the island can hold. Mr Manuwarna said they would get an electric fence to keep the animals within the island.
Veterinarian and professor in veterinary clinical science at the University of Peradeniya Prof Ashoka Dangolla said the pilot project is not a solution for the macaque issue, but a scientific exercise to find solutions.
He added that macaques are capable of swimming, but it wasn’t known if they could swim for long distances such as 600 meters, and pointed out that the fence is required when the reservoir’s water levels drop as it would reduce the distance the animals need to swim.
Director in charge of Wildlife Health of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Dr Tharaka Prasad confirmed that DWC approval was obtained for the “project” under conditions during the tenure of former Director General of Wildlife Chandana Sooriyabandara.
He explained that the action plan had a time frame, number of monkeys required to be captured, and mentioned creating a habitat for the animals.
However, environmentalists explained that macaque monkeys are fiercely territorial and therefore mixing animals captured from different areas would cause them to fight. Some even added that the macaques are capable of swimming and could leap into the water from treetops and swim across.
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