MADURAI: The menace by monkeys at the Government Hospital at Melur has frustrated patients and villagers. Currently, a couple of monkeys can be sighted on the hospital premises unlike earlier when troops of them used to create nuisance. Officials of the forest department and the hospital said the issue persists as the public feed monkeys.
Speaking to TNIE, M Yusuf, one of the villagers, said, "A few days ago, a large monkey entered the hospital premises. It jumped from one place to another. Finally, it sat along the entrance of the maternity ward, creating panic among the female patients. It didn't attack anyone but most of the pregnant women who arrive for review are scared of seeing the monkey. Children too are afraid."
L Mohana, a resident of Melur, said, "Earlier, a group of monkeys used to enter the premises but for the past few weeks, only one or two monkeys have entered. These animals are attracted by the fruit stalls in front of the hospital. When they are chased by stall owners, they enter the hospital in search of food, creating panic among the patients."
A top official of the hospital said last year several monkeys were relocated to deep forests by the forest department.
"Our relief was short-lived as the trouble from monkeys continued. We found some patients and their relatives feeding the animals. Some of them even buy biscuits from shops to feed them. Despite warning they refuse to oblige. The monkey menace isn't limited to the hospital, but also in all parts of Melur town," the official stated. A forest official claimed wandering single monkeys cannot be tracked easily.
An official from the forest department said: "This isn't just an isolated case. Monkeys from the forests around Azhagar koil and from hilly areas arrive at different parts of the Melur Taluk, not just at the government hospital. The primary reason is the easy availability of food. Elderly persons and youngsters feed the animals even with fruits. Recently, we translocated around 70 monkeys from Ambalakaranpatti to a dense forest. Troops of monkeys can be tracked, but a single wandering monkey cannot be tracked."