Colombo (Sri Lanka) - Farmers in Sri Lanka have a common enemy: monkeys! They plunder plantations in large groups, raid coconuts, cashews and mangoes and cause considerable damage.
As the world's fourth largest coconut producer and a major producer of other nuts, Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on agriculture - more than eight million people work in this sector. But the losses are enormous: every year, around a fifth of the harvest is destroyed by the voracious Animals lost.
Government launches large-scale animal census
In order to assess the extent of the problem and develop solutions, the government launched a comprehensive census of the monkey population on March 15. Giant squirrels and peacocks are also being recorded. "The situation is so serious that some farmers are abandoning their fields," explained Deputy Agriculture Minister Namal Karunaratne.
Why are the animals invading agricultural areas?
Farmers suspect that the increased presence of wild animals in the fields is linked to the loss of their natural habitats. For example, farmer Edirisinghe Arachchilage Gnanasena (72) from Dambulla counted 45 monkeys, six giant squirrels and nine peacocks on his property within just five minutes.
The census should help to better understand the animal population in agricultural areas and develop strategies to limit damage.
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