It’s been almost two weeks since Himachal Pradesh declared monkeys vermin for a period of one year in 38 tehsils of 10 districts. Although the decision has been taken, the state government is still formulating a policy on how to implement it. The categorisation of monkeys as vermin has lifted restrictions over killing and culling the animal.

The move has elicited a mixed reaction among people in Himachal Pradesh. Players in the tourism industry obviously don’t mind the development, however, those working for animal welfare aren’t happy with the state government’s decision.

“What wrong has the animal done? It’s the humans. When they don’t have anything to eat, no place to live, they will come into human settlement,” said ML Patiyal of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mandi. Patiyal feels that a sane solution to the problem would have been to urge people to not feed monkeys, “Because people feed them, they come to human settlements expecting food. Just put up boards in various parts of the city telling people to not feed monkeys and they will stop coming,” he said.

However, Patiyal’s sentiments are not shared by hoteliers in Himachal Pradesh.

“The monkeys are very dangerous, definitely. They bite, you know. Not just that, they snatch things from people. If some one is eating an ice-cream, they’ll just attack them and take it away,” said Sanjay Sood, who owns Hotel Marc in Shimla. For many like Sood, whose livelihood depends on tourism, monkeys are a direct threat.

Sood adds that many times when a room’s window is open, monkeys enter and damage rooms. “They break expensive crockery, attack the costumers etc,” he complained.

Sanjay Madan, owner of East Bourne Resort, has similar things to say. “They are very dangerous. If they bite, you have to get rabies injection. And if five of them attack you together, they can kill you too.” According to Madan, the wildlife department had earlier tried to solve the monkey menace in Shimla by relocating them to the forest, but they have always managed to come back. “I am 100 per cent sure that this will solve the problem,” Madan said.