Varanasi: To tackle the growing menace of monkey attacks and reduce man-animal conflict, the forest department will develop a dedicated Kapi-Van outside the city, where simians will be provided with a natural habitat and fruit-bearing trees to ensure a steady food supply. The project, aimed at preventing monkeys from venturing into residential areas in search of food, is expected to begin in the first week of July.Rapid deforestation and the shrinking number of trees have led to a significant loss of the natural habitat of monkeys, forcing them to enter residential areas in search of food and shelter. This has resulted in a rise in incidents of monkey nuisance and attacks on people.Divisional forest officer Nidhi Chauhan said that under the Kapi-Van scheme, fruit-bearing and shade-giving trees will be planted on a large scale outside the city’s populated areas. Species such as Badhal, Mango, Jamun, Guava, Bel, Gular, Jackfruit, Ber, Mulberry, Peepal and Fig will be given priority as they are among the monkeys’ preferred food sources. The initiative aims to provide monkeys with adequate food and shelter in their natural surroundings.She said that once monkeys have access to sufficient food and habitat, their movement towards residential areas is expected to decline, leading to fewer incidents of monkey attacks and providing relief to residents.Besides reducing human-monkey conflict, the project is expected to contribute to environmental conservation, expansion of green cover and promotion of biodiversity. Officials believe the initiative will help establish better coexistence between humans and wildlife while restoring a suitable habitat for monkeys.
