Monkey population on decline in Chandpur

As locals of Chandpur Sadar, mostly in Puranbazar, have been witnessing a decline in monkey population in the area for the past few years, with weak and sick looking monkeys not as active as they were before, the Forest Department authorities say they are unable to help due to lack of funds.

Currently, no non-governmental organisation or volunteering group is working in the area to come to the aid of the monkeys and many locals told the FE that the primates should be protected at any cost.

A few years ago, there were about three hundred monkeys in the district's biggest business hub- Puranbazar, according to Puranbazar's veteran business merchants Mainul Islam Kishore, Nasir Uddin, Shekhor Pal and Tomal Kr Ghose.

They said monkeys were often seen jumping from roof to roof and on the lanes as well as by lanes of factories. Puran Bazar Degree College teachers Md Idris Mia, Saiful Islam and college staff Salahuddin Mia, Yusuf Mia and Mir Farid Ahmed said about five to six years ago many monkeys with their babies in "their pouches" waited on the tin-roofs of classrooms for food waste, but now few are seen. Currently, monkeys remain completely absent for days at the school campus.

Similarly, a few monkeys are now seen in Palerbazar and Natunbazar in Chandpur Sadar, which was not the case before, according to traders and grocers.

Business leaders and elderly members speculated that shortage of food is the main reason behind the dwindling and ailing monkeys in Chandpur. There were no data and sources available to determine whether any monkeys died of hunger, or just relocated due to shortage of food, or other hostile situations.

Business leaders in Puranbazar said some 50 salt and flour industries have been remaining closed for ten years in Chandpur due to "frequent or sudden" river erosion and because of lack of government support. As 5,000-6,000 workers had to relocate, the monkeys dependent on their food waste also had to do the same.

maayerbadhon@gmail.com