Decades-long monkey menace in Trongsa is finally resolved

Lhakpa Quendren

Trongsa—After two decades of monkey menace, Trongsa town has finally found peace.

The sight of troops of monkeys swinging from trees and rooftops, raiding dustbins, vegetable sheds, and even breaking into homes, was once common in Trongsa.

Earlier this year, the Trongsa dzongkhag administration relocated around 30 macaques to Royal Manas National Park, bringing an end to this longstanding human-monkey conflict for good.

Following the cessation of monkey feeding and the enforcement of strict waste management regulations across the town, dratshang, and dzongkhag administration, around 110 remaining monkeys returned to their natural habitat.

A dzongkhag official said that strategic interventions were adopted for the monkey relocation. “We explored various measures, focusing on advocacy, stakeholder consultation, and close monitoring, which had not been done before,” the official added.

The relocation, carried out in a staggered manner, was temporarily halted due to resource constraints. However, it resumed after studying the monkeys’ adaptation to their new location, which indicated success.

“It is important to return them to their habitat with compassion,” the official said, adding that monkeys posed significant risks in the dzong and town, including fire hazards from butter lamps and potential electrical damage.

The monkey menace had become so severe that the monkeys had become habituated to humans. The issue stemmed from years of misguided acts of compassion, where residents fed the monkeys and left waste from rituals in open spaces. This disrupted their natural food chain and drew them closer to human settlements.

“Once the monkeys taste human food, they lose their natural instincts. When we cut off their food sources, including garbage and religious offerings, they naturally moved away,” said the official.

The biggest fear, according to dzongkhag officials, was that the space would soon be reoccupied as the monkeys continued to circulate. However, their encroachment in human settlements became seasonal and migratory, as people no longer fed them.

To address the menace, the dzongkhag administration, in the past, attempted several measures, including the formation of a task force named the ‘Human-Monkey Conflict Management Committee’, which involved various stakeholders. However, these efforts were unsuccessful.

One of the monkeys’ preferred haunts was Trongsa Dzong, where the large structure provided shelter and food scraps from monks. Over time, their presence left the area unsafe and unsanitary.

“The surroundings of the dzong and offices used to be filthy due to monkey feces, as it was scattered everywhere. Now, it is clean and safe,” said another official.

Residents and businesses in Trongsa have welcomed the changes, describing the town’s transformation as peaceful and safe.

“We no longer have to guard against monkeys,” said 55-year-old businessman Arjun Chhetri. “The nuisance was a major problem for years, especially for vegetable vendors. We are thankful for the relocation initiative.”

Vendors previously struggled with macaques stealing produce and had to guide children to school to protect them.

Health officials treated five to six monkey bite cases annually at Trongsa Hospital, though no separate records were maintained.

Tshering Lekso, a resident of Sherubling, said that people can now walk alone to town safely. “There have been no monkeys around, including in Thruepang, which used to be infested. Previously, we were even unable to walk along the road to town,” she added.

Deki, a hotelier in the town, said the town has been peaceful, with not a single monkey spotted for almost a year. “They used to snatch food if we carried it in our hands and even entered our homes. It was not safe to visit the dzong because of the monkeys.”