Puri: Puri divisional forest officer (DFO) has urged the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to declare monkeys as vermin (animals which attack human beings and other animals) at several areas of the district including in the holy city and Konark amid reports of frequent simian attacks on devotees and tourists.
Sources said DFO Chittaranjan Mishra had written to the PCCF raising concern over monkey menace in at least 64 places in the district. Mishra had claimed that moneys have become a threat to human beings and their livelihoods in the city, Konark, Nimapara and several panchayats under Gop, Kakatpur, Astarang and Satyabadi tehsils.
The DFO informed the PCCF that several tourists were injured when monkeys bit them on the Sun temple premises at Konark recently.
“The PCCF had asked us to provide details regarding panchayats and localities that have been facing the menace for last couple of years. We have submitted a list of such localities to the PCCF. We hope that he will declare monkeys as vermin and allow culling of the animals,” said a forest department official.
The DFO said forest department officials will take requisite steps to cull monkeys in the pilgrim city, Konark and other areas after receiving an approval from the PCCF in this regard.
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