When Vellore Collector P. Kumaravel Pandian asked the Forest Department official about the possibility of training wild monkeys to pluck coconuts in the district’s groves, those in attendance at the farmers’ grievances meeting held at the Collectorate in Vellore burst into laughter.
But the Collector, it turned out, was serious in his recommendation in using the monkeys for the laborious task. The issue came up for discussion when farmers from Gudiyatham demanded compensation from the district administration after troops of monkeys damaged the coconut groves in the border town. “I am serious about the idea. The Forest Department should explore the possibility of training monkeys for the job,” the Collector said.
Forest Range Officers for Amrithi, Vellore town and Odugathur were among those present at the meeting. Officials said currently, wild monkeys were classified under Schedule 4 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Any controlled experimentation of wild species in the region should be done only after a written permission is obtained from the Chief Wildlife Warden.
