Study Of Ecology of Monkey Species and Crop Depredation in Arkhale and Nayagaun, Gulmi, West Nepal

Abstract

The study entitled as “STUDY OF ECOLOGY OF MONKEY SPECIES AND CROP DEPREDATION IN ARKHALE AND NAYAGAUN, GULMI, WEST NEPAL” was carried with the major objective of analyzing monkey ecology along with human and monkey interference in Arkhale and Nayagaun of Gulmi district. The study site coversArkhale and Nayagaun Village Development Committee where two wards from each VDC were taken as a sample for detail study. Both primary and secondary data related to the study were used. Primary data were collected by field study as well as household questionnaire survey. Monkey population was determined by direct counting of the individuals in each group Quadrat method was used to analyze vegetation pattern of natural forest or monkey habitat.

Two species of monkeys, Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus) were found in study area. Four troops of rhesus monkey with total population of 128 and 1 troop of Hanuman Langur with a population of 14 were recorded. Rhesus monkey (as reported by 65% respondents) was found as more damaging ones. Monkeys were found affecting human welfare by varying degrees. Crop depredation (reported by 64% respondents) and as well asphysical hurt and harassment (reported by 27%) were the major monkey related problem in the study area. Maize (as reported by 53% respondents) and wheat (as reported by 23% respondents) were reported to be worst affectedwhereas pulses were the least affected crop in the study area. Shouting and following (30%) as well as using stone and catapult (24%) were the common deterrent method against monkey. Monkey problem was increasing (as reported by 82%) in the area. Such soaring of monkey problem was due to lack of food for monkey in natural habitat, increase of monkey population itself, no provision of killing the monkey and so on. Worth compensation (as reported by 39% of respondents) would be the effective measure to reduce human-monkey conflict in the study area.