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Food waste habits cause for growing monkey population: Ecologist
Colombo, January 7 (Daily Mirror) - The main cause of the growing monkey population in the country is the habit of leaving behind reasonable portions of food, instead of discarding large uneaten quantities, Ecologist, Herpetologist and master wildlife photographer Mendis Wickremesinghe said.
"The monkey menace has been created due to massive food wastage. The monkey population has been observed growing near popular schools, religious sites, prominent tourist attractions and food stalls in these areas where food waste is discarded frequently," he said.
"Monkeys are intelligent creatures and adapt quickly. In forests, the natural balance of food plays a significant role in regulating the monkey population. Food availability in forests help limit female monkeys to a single breeding cycle per year. However, the abundance of food in urban areas has increased their breeding frequency," Wickremesinghe explained.
"Large areas of forests have been cleared to grow various plants and trees that are economically beneficial to the country. Unfortunately, these plants do not contribute to the monkeys' diet, nor do they provide sufficient water. As a result, monkeys begin moving into human-inhabited areas in search of food and water, which are readily available for their survival," Wickremesinghe said.
He said the monkey issue began 150 years ago, alongside the country's development, and the situation has now reached a critical point.
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