Himachal monkeys for Tajikistan

It was not apples but monkeys that Himachal Pradesh could export to the Central Asian Republic of Tajikistan soon, said A K Gulati, state wildlife chief.

"The Tajikistan government has sent a letter to the central government requesting imports of monkeys. The central government in turn has written to the state government to start the process. The state government is now considering exporting monkeys to Tajikistan," he said.

Incidentally, the state wildlife department is currently in the process of capturing monkeys in Shimla, in a drive launched to clear the resort town of these primates and release them in sanctuaries outside the state.

Already, close to 500 monkeys have been incarcerated in cages, with the help of specialists. The monkeys are a nuisance to residents and tourists, and they are now beginning to heave a sigh of relief.

These monkeys are likely to be housed in zoos and sanctuaries in Tajikistan, an official says.

The hill state has a sizeable population of monkeys at around 250,000, according to the latest count this year. These include the more populous red-bottomed monkeys and black-faced langoor.

There are some 2,000 monkeys in the verdant parts of Shimla.

These urban primates have a notorious reputation for their depredations. They get into people's homes in search of food and also destroy gardens.

Besides attacking fruit and vegetable carriers, they also prise open dustbins and scatter junk all over the streets, causing a perpetual bother to civic authorities.