FW:(HK) Contraception programme to solve monkey mayhem

April 19, 2002

Contraception programme to solve monkey mayhem

Hong Kong is introducing a contraception programme to

cope with its rampaging monkey population.

Officials say the 1,250 macaques in the Monkey

Mountain area create traffic hazards, snatch food and

frequently attack hikers.

They operate in gangs of between 30 and 100. Their

leaders have been given nicknames like Longlegged 7,

Superman and Kit-kit.

Hong Kong's monkey population has been growing between

5.5% and 10% a year.

The government blames animal lovers for foiling a

feeding ban intended to push monkeys deeper into the

forest to hunt for something to eat.

Vets from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation

Department have already begun a trial programme on a

clan of 18 females and several males.

Caught monkeys are given contraceptive injections,

ear-notched with microchips for identification and

released the same day.

Officials say the monkeys' sex lives aren't affected

and no side effects are expected. It's too early to

say if the contraceptives will wear off.

The contraceptive programme has been welcomed by many

visitors to the mountain. Frequent hiker, 75-year-old

Leung Mun-shing, said: " I've been attacked several

times. Once, a monkey jumped onto me and scratched my

shoulder, looking for food. "

But some are opposed to contraception. Linuce Lam, a

40-year-old engineer, who takes his son to feed the

monkeys from his car, said: " It just goes against

nature - there shouldn't be any control. "

Story filed: 16:26 Thursday 18th April 2002

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