(JP) Nikko serious about monkey management

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020429wo61.htm

 

Nikko serious about monkey management

 

Yomiuri Shimbun

29 Apr 2002

 

The Tochigi prefectural government will give lectures

to local residents in Nikko in the prefecture to help

them oust mischievous monkeys rampaging around the

Okunikko area northwest of the city.

 

The monkeys first bit and harassed the occasional

tourist, but their mischief now has escalated into a

serious problem for local agriculture and forests.

 

Both the prefectural and the Nikko municipal

governments have tackled the problem by giving monkeys

electric shocks or by banning tourists from feeding

them. However, their efforts have had little success.

 

" We expect to use the brains of local people to combat

this monkey menace, " said an official of the

prefectural government's natural environment division.

 

 

Damage caused by monkeys last year to the agricultural

sector was estimated at 24 million yen, while that to

forests was 3 million yen. However, invisible damages

have also emerged, such as workers in the agricultural

and forestry industries giving up their jobs because

they can no longer bear the years of monkey mischief.

 

A new strategy to combat the monkeys will make use of

transmitters attached to about 30 of the pesky

primates.

 

The officials will track groups of the monkeys, then

attempt to frighten them by shooting off fireworks

before they get close to areas where humans live.

 

The officials have been trained in how to use the

receivers and fireworks and have studied the

behavioral patterns and ecology of monkeys.

 

The prefectural government will offer a lecture from

the end of May to the local residents and those who

are willing to join in the project. The government

will train a group of specialists in the art of monkey

combat and vows to get the better of the beasts in the

end.

 

The lecture will be offered about five times a year.

However, the government says it will offer more

lectures and lend receivers to local people when they

are needed.

 

In addition, from fiscal 2002, the government will

strengthen its monkey patrol along the Irohazaka road,

a famous sight-seeing spot near the city.

 

The new system not only warns tourists of monkey

attacks, but also instructs them on how to disperse

the prehensile-tailed pests.

 

Officials said they have redoubled their vigilance and

are now focusing on monkey management year round,

rather than the spring to autumn tourist season.

 

The prefectural government used to give electric

shocks to captured monkeys to implant a sense of fear

in them.

 

However, even if this technique succeeded in breaking

the spirits of one group of monkeys, another would

come to take its place, which would have little effect

on long-term monkey discipline problems, sources said.

 

 

The electric-shock project lasted for only three

months because tourists complained it was cruel.

 

The effects of the 2000 municipal ordinance,

prohibiting tourists from feeding monkeys, have been

similarly unremarkable, sources said

 

Copyright 2002 The Yomiuri Shimbun

 

 

 

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