Monkeys unleash reign of terror in Same district

2009-01-03 11:16:04
By Regional Reporters


KILIMANJARO
More than 500 monkeys from Mkomazi Game reserve in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region, have invaded people`s houses and farms, eating crops and taking with them people`s babies, reports Salome Kitomary, Same.

The incidents took place in Izungo Village, Dido location, Njoro Ward in Same District where the monkeys ate crops and took away small babies.

Njoro ward councillor Joseph Kateri told a Same council meeting that monkeys were becoming a nuisance and they were threatening the lives of the people, particularly babies.

The councillor mentioned crops that were being eaten by monkeys as maize, beans, and cassava.
``But sometimes they enter people`s houses and take away babies,`` he said.

Kateri said recently two small babies who had been taken by the monkeys were rescued by good Samaritans.

``Monkeys had entered the people`s houses and taken with them those small babies, but fortunately people saw them and rescued the babies,`` he said.

He said the situation was threatening the village community and villages around the reserve, regardless of the efforts by the wildlife department in chasing the animals.

The department has done a lot, but surprisingly the number of monkeys is increasing day after day, he said.

Responding, the Same District Executive Director, Juma Iddi clarified that it was people not monkeys who invaded the area, because the location was part of the reserve.
He said residents of Dido location were supposed to vacate the area since 1984.

``Regardless of mistakes done on the registration of the village, the truth remains that the wananchi were invaders of the area,`` said DED.

He however insisted that the government was working on the problems in collaboration with Mkomazi game reserve.

Iddi said experts in wild animals would meet with villagers to discuss ways of solving the monkey problem.

``Already wildlife experts had met with agricultural experts to discuss the matter and have come to a conclusion that they have to chase the animals from the village,`` said the DED.

I'm left wondering what sort of "monkeys" we're talking about here. In that area I've seen Colobus monkeys , Vervet/green monkeys & baboons. It sounds like baboons to me, I'd be interested to know for sure though whatever they are.
Steve

I'm with you Shinzo. The monkeys I have seen don't seem big enough to carry a baby, even an infant very far.

Why would a monkey (or baboon) steal a human infant? Are they carnivorous?

Its native superstition and beliefs that monkeys carry away children. Similar mumbo jumbo in India too...not true at all.

Although monkeys are a nuisance and become very aggressive pests if not controlled. In India they are considered sacred, so hang around all the temples grabing bags out of people's hands and generally behaving very badly

The Rhesus monkeys are the bad ones to watch out for around Indian temples!

If Tanz Park's offered me one Mkomazi Elephant, lion, Buff or Leopard I would offer my services to help PAC.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Its native superstition and beliefs that monkeys carry away children. Similar mumbo jumbo in India too...not true at all.

Although monkeys are a nuisance and become very aggressive pests if not controlled. In India they are considered sacred, so hang around all the temples grabing bags out of people's hands and generally behaving very badly

The Rhesus monkeys are the bad ones to watch out for around Indian temples!

I'll keep that in mind when I make it to India. Thanks!

we were having the same problem here, but now the election is over