Mulund not up for monkey tricks

While Mulund residents earnestly put forth various concerns with public representatives at DNA’s ‘My Locality, My Voice’ campaign, one of their grievances that remains unattended is that of the growing monkey menace.

Residents of areas like 90 Feet Road, Gupte Wadi and Deshmukh Wadi were a worried lot as monkeys barge into residences very often.

“Monkeys throng these areas from green patches near Mulund and Airoli. They barge into homes in search of food. Sometimes, they even open refrigerators to find food and in that process, scatter everything in the house,” said resident Shaliendra Sawant.
All occupants of Sagardeep CHS on the 90ft-road have put up grills to keep them at an arm’s length, but the simians still find a way to trouble residents. “They run away with clothes being dried in galleries,” Sameer Bhide, a resident of the society, said.

They are even using an abandoned building near Sagardeep to breed. “Children are more vulnerable to the menace. Before monkeys harm anyone, authorities concerned should swing into action,” Sawant added.

When approached, forest department officials first passed the buck to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) court, but later, assured of taking action.

Nilesh Bhanage, founder of Thane-based NGO Plant and Animals Wild Society, claimed apes found in the civilised belt are ones left by madaris living in slums at the Kalwa creek.

There is also a section of city residents that has been pushing for the monkeys’ rehabilitation. Dr Deepa Katyal, a resident of Chembur, said, “With the growing population, trees are being cut down, leaving no place for monkeys to live. In some cases, monkeys get electrocuted. Also, some people catch them, make money out of them and abandon them once grow weak. Measures should be taken to rehabilitate monkeys.”