Monkey Menace –Disrupting life at Gauhati University

Monkey Menace –Disrupting life at Gauhati University

Borni Dutta

Executive Summary:
This report presents an overview of the Gauhati University monkey problem at large by putting great attention to the severity of the issue at hand and its effects on the campus community, with some suggested solutions.

A troop of sizable rhesus monkeys has taken over the university campus. This has resulted in many disturbances, damages, and security issues.

Introduction:
Founded in 1948, Gauhati University is one of the top university located in the Northeast region with 341 acres under its umbrella. The university has been facing an unprecedented issue in recent years due to the growing threat posed by monkeys. A quick action and attention is needed because the situation has gotten alarmingly bad

Background:
Due to cutting of the dense forest in the nearby area of Gauhati university, resulted in the growth of monkey population in the campus. As a result of their adaptation to the availability of food and shelter, there are more monkeys on university campus. As the monkeys have grown bolder and more aggressive in recent months, the situation has gotten worse. Monkeys naturally love the campus because it is surrounded by mountains and thick forests. It has a very pleasant college atmosphere.

Questions used for data collection during survey:
1, What are the difficulties you are facing from the monkeys?
2. Do the monkeys attack in groups or in single?
3. Do you know the reason behind the increase of monkey population in the campus?
4. In general aspect, did you personally encounter any attacks from the monkeys or have you heard about that?
5. Have you seen any kind of safety measures taken because of the chaos created by monkeys?
6. Any suggestion on taking measures regarding the monkey menace in the university?

Incidents and impacts:
-Many of the students and faculty members are reported to have been chased. Monkeys also assault and victimize them leading to an enduring feeling of fear and anxiety.

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-Buildings that these monkeys invade include offices, hostels and residence in the campus. They go ahead to chase and threat people on the street of the campus and also snatch food items from their hands and often disrupt the activities going on.

-Food as well as garbage cans are being raided causing unsanitary conditions and health issues. There is a higher chance for diseases to spread.

-They not only steal foods but also steal clothes and other products of people, mainly from the students residing in the hostels, which leads to wastage of the food along with other personal products of the students.

-Various students together along with some staff, mostly women have sustained injuries necessitating medical attention among others things.

-The monkey trouble has decreased the university’s reputation greatly. Students along with the other residents of the university campus express worries concerning the issue of safety as well as security.

Analysis:
The problem of monkeys in Gauhati University is a multi-faceted fact attributed to many a reason such as Habitat encroachment and fragmentation along with
– Availability of food and water sources.
– Insufficient systems for waste management and disposal.
-Light measures to drive away the monkeys.

-Lack in awareness and knowledge between students & staff.

Recommendation:

-Trapping of the monkeys must be done on immediate basis, and must relocate the troop to a safe and suitable place as recommended by experts/concerned authorities.

-Installation of Monkey-proof fencing and mesh at the periphery area of campus. This will help prevent further encroachment.

-There should be regular collection, segregation and composting of waste management system.

– Put together a group of university administrators, wildlife and security experts to develop a plan that maintains the safety and well-being of students on campus.

-Organize awareness programs to increase awareness about monkey menace.

-Create short-lived working united NGOs with other wildlife organisation.

Conclusion:

The problem of monkey menace has to be addressed at the earliest by the Gauhati University administration, local government, and wildlife experts. In order to safeguard the prestige of this university as an academic institution and reputation for maintaining the quality of education, commitment to a supportive student learning environment, the problems concerning the safety, security, and well-being of the student community have to be taken care of.

The paper proposes a multi-faceted approach with short- and long-term measures to reduce the monkey menace and to provide a safe and conducive environment for the University community.

Borni Dutta is a student of Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University.

28-07-2024 [Headline Photography by Mridul Jyoti Nath]

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