ISLAMABAD: Following the deaths of three rhesus monkeys in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills Nationwide Park, the wildlife specialists have blamed “human feeding” for the rising incidents and known as for heightened public consciousness concerning human interactions with animals.
The event got here days after a rhesus monkey was fatally electrocuted within the nationwide park whereas climbing energy strains searching for meals. This marks the third such fatality in latest months, underscoring the rising risks of human feeding habits.
Giving particulars concerning the incident, wildlife rescuer Sana Raja famous that the monkey climbed {the electrical} infrastructure searching for meals scraps left by park guests.
Talking to the state information company, she believed human feeding has conditioned the animals to affiliate people with meals, pushing them into unsafe areas like roads or energy strains.
“Human feeding disrupts the instincts of monkeys,” she stated, including this not solely results in unnatural behaviours but in addition attracts them into hazardous environments, equivalent to roads or areas with electrical infrastructure.
She added that the overpopulation of rhesus monkeys within the park is a direct consequence of human feeding habits. “Their numbers have grown manifold over time, inflicting elevated competitors for sources, accidents, and aggression towards people.”
“Many monkeys endure extreme well being points from consuming trash, together with fungal infections of their digestive techniques,” Sana added.
In the meantime, Sakhwat Ali, an environmental scientist, warned that feeding wildlife disrupts the ecosystems.
“Monkeys and different animals might abandon their pure eating regimen, resulting in malnutrition and aggression inside populations,” he stated, including that this not solely impacts their well being but in addition creates an imbalance within the ecosystem, placing undue strain on human-animal coexistence.
Many park guests expressed remorse over the monkey deaths, admitting they have been unaware of the implications of their actions.
“I believed I used to be serving to by sharing my snacks with them,” one customer stated, including: “Now I see it’s extra dangerous than I imagined.”
Umar Bilal, spokesperson for the Islamabad Wildlife Administration Board (IWMB), stated that the deaths of monkeys are “preventable”.
He appealed to the guests to assist them shield the wildlife by following the rules. The IWMB, he stated, has ramped up efforts to curb dangerous practices.
Because the Margalla Hills Nationwide Park grapples with the challenges of preserving its pure habitat, the duty lies not simply with authorities however with each customer. By respecting nature and its inhabitants, the fragile steadiness of the ecosystem could be protected for generations to come back.