Ramanagaram all set to host some ‘monkey business’

If all goes according to plan, Ramanagaram district will soon be hailed as the pioneer of setting up the state’s first monkey park, dubbed Kothi Vana in Kannada. The two-acre park is designed to create a safe environment for monkeys, which prevail in large numbers in the vicinity. Currently, several monkey accidents are being reported. 

Veeranjaneya Temple Trust, the caretakers of Lord Hanuman temple on the Bangalore-Mysore highway stretch in Ramanagaram, was the one to bring the issue to light.

“We have witnessed many instances in which monkeys die in road accidents. As the Hanuman temple is located next to the highway, the monkeys, while trying to get to the temple, get hit by vehicles. So the temple trust has decided to build a park for them where they can safely move around,” said Thimmegowda, Veeranjaneya Temple Trust President.

Members of the trust further stated that there won’t be any cages for monkeys in the park. “We have selected a government-approved site, where there are many trees. We will grow more trees to attract monkeys. Although there will be a compound around the park, there won’t be any restrictions for the monkeys to move around,” said a member.

The investment for the park is `2 crore. There will also be a track set up for visitors to move around to watch the antics of the monkeys.

“We will start the park project soon after the temple trust meeting in the coming week,” said another trustee.
Ramanagaram Deputy Commissioner G L Chandrashekharaiah said that he is yet to get details of the project.