The monkey population has decreased by 33.5 percent claims a spokesperson from the state government. As per a survey the simian population has been assessed at 1,36,443 in comparison to 2,05,167 of 2015,. He said that a survey on population of macaques were conducted in the state, except for Lahaul-Spiti. He said that Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (CASON) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has assessed the population of macaque and presented its report. Similarly, average troupe size has also decreased resulting in lowering of density hotspots from 263 to 226.
Adding that Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has been undertaking various measures for controlling the population of rhesus macaque. According to the report decrease in the population abundance is a result of various measures adopted by the Forest Department such as mass sterilisation programme, batter garbage management, widespread public awareness campaigns, habitat enrichment model adopted by the state and declaration of rhesus macaque has vermin in 91 Tehsil/Sub Tehsil and Shimla Municipal area. He said that eight Monkey Sterilisation Centers are operational in the state, in which 35 thousand monkeys are sterilized ever year. He said that 1,62000 monkeys have been sterilized till date and prevented births of more than 5 lakhs monkeys.
