Image
Monkey
Three monkeys have caused terror among the patrons of a few hair-cutting salons in the Shukrawar peth and Shanivar peth areas since last week. The civic authorities and forest department officials are passing the buck over the responsibility to catch the animals.

Two men were attacked while they were entering two different salons in the area in the last two days. Residents have demanded that the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) take immediate action to nab the animals.

On Monday, Sanjay Mane, a medical professional, was attacked and bitten by a monkey when he was entering in a salon in Teli lane of Shukrawar peth. On Sunday, a monkey entered the saloon in Shaniwar peth area and attacked Santosh Chougule, a customer. Similar incidents were reported last week from the same area.

According to the eye witnesses, the monkey enters any saloon and bites any customer. Before the owners or customers can react, the monkey jumps away on a nearby house roof or tree.

Aditya Sarnaik, resident of Shukrawar peth, said the monkey appears on the road, suddenly climbs a tree, tries to shake it. Then, it makes loud noises to indicate its anger. "The monkey's wild actions have caused fear among the local residents. We are scared of it and hope the civic authorities would get hold of the animals soon," he said.

KMC's chief fire officer Ranjit Kondiba Chile said, "We take action immediately after we get calls from the residents. From the last three days, our vehicle is continuously moving around the city trying to shoo the monkeys away. There are three to four monkeys roaming from one place to other."

He added, "We have contacted the forest officials to take action against the monkeys causing fear among people. They are trained at catching such animals and have the required material."

Deputy forest conservator Ranganath Naikade of territorial forest division of Kolhapur said it is not their responsibility to catch monkeys creating a menace in the city area.

They said they have guided the civic authorities about the experts, who could catch the animals.

"It is not our duty to catch the animals found in the KMC limits. It is the duty of the KMC officials. "We have sent written a letter to the KMC stating that it is not our duty to take action in its limits. We have also mentioned the addresses and contact numbers of experts in catching monkeys and have guided KMC officials to take their help," Naikade said.

Senior researcher Varad Giri of the Bombay Natural History Society said, "From the incidents, we can say that the monkey might have been attacked by a man stepping out of a saloon. This has remained in its mind indicating that there is danger to his life from people from saloon. This may be the reason for the attacks. We would have to further study the behavioural pattern to understand what is happening."