Andhra: 45 monkeys found dead in Srikakulam, poisoning suspected
By Newsmeter Network Published on 25 Oct 2022 12:45 PM GMT
Srikakulam: In a shocking incident, 45 monkeys, including some baby simians and females, were found dead near the roadside at Silagam village under Kaviti mandal in Srikakulam district. The forest officials said the cause of the death is being investigated. According to the officials, they got an alert that carcasses of monkeys were lying near the road at Silagam village.
Forest range officer, Kasibugga range, A. Murali Krishna Naidu said the perpetrators might have killed the monkeys somewhere and dumped them at Silagam village. The villagers said Silagam has no monkeys but they are found near Mandasa, around 30 km from Silagam. It was shocking for them to find so many monkeys dead. "We have never come across such an incident," the forest official added.
Some local villagers who noticed the carcasses after a foul stench immediately informed the forest personnel and police. The locals believe that miscreants killed the monkeys by poisoning them. They also alleged that the monkeys were killed after they ate poisonous bananas.
The actual reasons for the death of the monkeys will be known only after getting the post-mortem report. "We will form a special team to probe the incident and nab the culprits involved," said Srikakulam DFO E. Harika.
A post-mortem of the dead monkeys was conducted on Tuesday evening and all 45 animals were buried in the presence of the revenue and police personnel.
The forest officials and the locals suspect that it could be the handiwork of some people who could not bear the money menace. "We are making inquiries in the surrounding villages as well. We are trying to trace the miscreant with the help of police," said an official.
"We cannot rule out the involvement of the people of Odisha. A few locals said some people from Odisha dumped the dead monkeys and fled the spot," the official added.
Based on a complaint from the forest officials, the police will register a case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals Act 1960 and investigate the case.
