Monkey Bite Incidents Surge 95% in Galiyat

APP

Peshawar: The Galliyat region of Abbottabad has seen a staggering 95 percent increase in monkey attacks and bite incidents during the current summer season, with wildlife experts attributing the change in primate behavior to tourists feeding them.

According to Dr Wasif, a medical official at Kala Bagh Health Center, around 56 cases of monkey attacks and bites have been reported in areas like Nathia Gali, Dona Gali, and Bara Gali from January 2023 to August 2024. In 2023, there were 19 reported cases, while the current year has seen 37 incidents by the end of August.

In response to monkey attacks and resulting injuries, medical practitioners advise victims to receive anti-rabies vaccinations to prevent future health complications.

Dr Wasif noted that the monkey population in the region has increased, and incidents of aggression have risen, particularly during the summer months when thousands of tourists flock to the scenic area.

Wildlife experts point to the feeding of monkeys by tourists as a key factor driving these behavioral changes. Muhammad Waseem, Manager at WWF Pakistan, emphasized that such feeding disrupts the monkeys’ natural eating habits, leading to increased conflict between humans and wildlife.

“Feeding monkeys at scenic sites like Galliyat and Margalla Hills has made them dependent on humans, which creates problems for locals, wildlife protectors, and visitors alike,” Waseem stated.

He noted that while monkeys traditionally found food in forests, their dependence on human-provided food has compromised their instincts.

Waseem also highlighted the significant increase in monkey troop sizes.

A survey conducted between 1978 and 1984 found herd sizes ranging from 40 to 44, but current estimates exceed 100, driven by the availability of food from tourists and waste in populated areas.

Daud Khan Yousafzai, an MPhil scholar whose research focused on this issue, warned that human feeding is depriving wild species of their natural instincts, leading to dependency on human food and damaging the ecosystem.

He explained that monkeys play a vital role in plant regeneration through seed dispersal.

Sajid Hussain, a Field Assistant for WWF-Pakistan, echoed these concerns, noting that monkeys have altered their eating habits to include human snacks like chips and biscuits.

He stressed that feeding by tourists has pushed monkeys from their natural habitats into human settlements, resulting in more conflicts and attacks.

Sajid also revealed that many local residents do not receive anti-rabies treatment for monkey bites due to vaccine shortages and financial constraints when seeking care in Abbottabad city.

“The wildness in monkeys has faded; otherwise, they would not approach humans so closely. Let’s contribute to the welfare of wild nature,” he suggested.