News
Farmers given green-light to kill monkeys
16 Feb, 2023
Farmers have been given the green-light to kill monkeys (toque macaque) to save crops.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told farmers that there is no other option but to control the monkey population, better known in Sri Lanka as the rilawa.
He said that monkeys are no more in the list of protected species in Sri Lanka.
Amaraweera said that a committee had studied the matter and submitted a report which notes the need to control the monkey population.
Officials told the Minister that killing animals is a practice that is not followed in practice and most animals are captured and released elsewhere.
Farmers had raised concerns over the damage to their crops from monkeys and other birds and animals. (Colombo Gazette)
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