Srikakulam monkey deaths: Postmortem report confirms assault; no arrests yet

A post-mortem report has confirmed that 45 monkeys, which were found dead near the roadside at Silagam village under Kaviti Mandal of Srikakulam district, were assaulted and not poisoned.

The monkeys including baby and female simians were found dead on October 25 in the Srikakulam district. Forest officials had earlier suspected that the monkeys may have died after eating bananas laced with poison.

The veterinary department officials led by assistant surgeon Sirisha B conducted the post-mortem and sent samples to Veterinary Biological Research Institute (VBRI), Vijayawada.

Sirisha B said they have received the autopsy report from VBRI and it showed that the monkeys were hit on their hands, head, and back. They had suffered internal wounds. The report also showed cytolysis of hepatocytes in the liver, congestion in the lung, cytolysis of tubular epithelial cells in the kidney, edema in muscle fibers in the heart, and hemorrhages in the spleen, she added.

"We strongly believe that the monkeys were captured by using nets and they were later beaten to death. The death was the handiwork of some people who could not bear the monkey menace. The monkeys were killed in the neighboring Odisha and their bodies were dumped in the Srikakulam district either on October 24 or in the wee hours of October 25," the locals added.

The forest officials have found some ropes near the crime site. Officials said it indicates that the dead monkeys were tied with ropes and dumped.

Srikakulam police have registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals Act 1960. However, the police and forest department personnel have not been able to identify the persons involved in the incident.