Monkey Trouble in the City: Living with Macaques in Guwahati

Monkey Trouble in the City: Living with Macaques in Guwahati

Jyotishman T. Saikia

On a misty morning atop Navagraha Hill, pilgrims climb the stone steps with bananas and biscuits in hand – not just for the gods inside the temple, but for the monkeys that wait patiently (or not) outside.

Below, in the narrow lanes of Maligaon Railway Colony, the scene is less sacred: kitchen windows barred with metal grills, sesame seeds drying under watchful eyes, and vegetable patches ravaged by hungry hands. Not human hands – macaque hands.

In these two pockets of Guwahati, a quiet conflict simmers between humans and monkeys. What was once a relationship marked by reverence is now shifting under the pressures of urbanization, deforestation, and unchecked population growth – of both humans and primates.

When I met Tapan Das near the Navagraha Temple in October 2024, he spoke with a mix of fondnessand frustration about living alongside monkeys. “We used to laugh at their antics. Now, we keep ourdoors shut even during the day,” he said. Tapan, like many others, blames a mix of well-meaningpilgrims and vanishing forest cover for the monkeys’ growing dependency on people.

“Faith, folklore, and familiarity have long shaped how Guwahati’s people see monkeys. But those beliefs are now tested by daily invasions and occasional violence. Residents are asking not for eradication, but for empathy-driven solutions: habitat protection, population control, and public awareness.”

The ban on monkey hunting, though important for conservation, has also contributed to this surge.With food scarce in the wild and plentiful in temple offerings and open dustbins, monkeys havebecome bolder – and sometimes dangerous. Mobile phones, car keys, even kitchen containers are nowfair game. “They know who feeds them,” said Gita Sarmah, a local resident. “And they know whodoesn’t.”

In Maligaon Railway Colony, Nilakshi Sarmah’s story mirrors Tapan’s, but with its own peculiar details. “They chase women more. Maybe they think we’re softer,” she laughs nervously, recounting at time a monkey followed her to her doorstep. Gardening has stopped. Doors are kept bolted. Firecrackers, sticks, and even catapults – locally called gultis -have returned as crude tools of resistance.

Anima Barman, another resident, tried feeding the monkeys biscuits to avoid damage. It worked – until the troop grew larger. “Once you feed one, they all come,” she said. “They remember.”

Worse still, there have been alarming incidents. In one case, a monkey that accidentally consumeddrugs became violent, biting several people before being caught and treated. In another, a monkeyinjured by a stone was treated by veterinarians after public outcry. Compassion and conflict live sideby side here.

What’s driving this rising tension? The answer lies beyond the rooftops. Deforestation on Adingiri Hill, expanding urban footprints, and seasonal scarcity of fruits in the wild are pushing monkeys – and even tigers – downhill. With fewer resources and more human encounters, aggression and territorial behaviour are increasing.

This isn’t just about monkeys misbehaving. It’s about broken habitats and missing policy. Residentspoint out that while stray dog populations are controlled, there is no equivalent plan for monkeys.Wildlife officials remain largely absent from this growing urban drama.

Faith, folklore, and familiarity have long shaped how Guwahati’s people see monkeys. But thosebeliefs are now tested by daily invasions and occasional violence. Residents are asking not for eradication, but for empathy-driven solutions: habitat protection, population control, and public awareness.

In the shadow of the temple and the railway lines, a question looms larger than any monkey troop – how long can this uneasy coexistence last without change?

Jyotishman T. Saikia is a student of Mass Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University

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