KATHMANDU, MAY 12 -
Animal rights campaigners have blamed the government for the “mysterious” death of more than 30 rhesus monkeys inside Shivapuri National Park.

Around 280 monkeys were freed from Lele Breeding Centre, Lalitpur about four months ago and were released into Shivapuri park following the government’s decision to ban captive breeding of simians in August last year.

Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, animal rights campaigners said the death is due to the unscientific and random process the government followed during their release and the concern raised by conservationists during the discharge time was ignored.

Seven animal welfare organisations, coordinated by Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN), said the government did not follow the international guidelines while rehabilitating the captive animals in natural habitat.

As per the guidelines the captive animals, before releasing them in the wild environment, rehabilitation and pre-introduction process such as proper health check-up, neutering process and training to help them hunt their prey should be carried out.

Likewise, to prepare the captive monkeys for a life in jungles, it essential to teach survival skills to their offspring like forming family groups. Rehabilitation is a sensitive process in which monkeys are tested, trained, monitored and prepared for a life in jungles.

“An ecological impact assessment of the sites has to be conducted and local communities should be part of such process,” said Manoj Gautam of AWNN. 

Meanwhile, survival of the remaining monkeys inside the park is said to be at risk because of their inability to cope up with the wild environment.

Posted on: 2010-05-13 08:27

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