CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Reply To:
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The Peradeniya University Veterinary Department and the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital are in the process of introducing an intrauterine device (IUD), also known as 'loop contraceptives', to prevent pregnancy in monkeys, Peradeniya University Veterinary Clinical Science Department Prof. Ashoka Dangolla said.
An IUD is a piece of T-shaped plastic that is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
He told the Daily Mirror that an experiment is underway to figure out a possible way to insert an IUD into female monkeys.
"We are in the process of experimenting with the size of the womb and the cervix of monkeys to insert the IUDs," he said.
"The loop that is currently used for women is a bit too large to use for monkeys. Therefore, it has been decided to appoint two teams of doctors from the Veterinary Department and Gynecology Unit to find out a possible technique to insert the IUDs into monkeys," Prof. Dangolla.
He said if the programme is successful, there will be no more operations, but all we need is to anesthetize them.
After installing an IUD, it prevents sperm from reaching the uterus and prevents monkeys from conceiving, he said.
The professor said that at least Rs. 1,000 will be spent on manufacturing IUDs that fit monkeys. It has been decided to hold discussions with IUD manufacturing companies.
"People used to capture monkeys and release them in certain places. If IUDs are widely available, people can insert them into monkeys by themselves and help control the population," he added. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
