Forest dept. to take up reclassification of the bonnet macaque with Centre

 

SANDEEP VELLARAM, 

IDUKKI, September 27, 2025

In Idukki, the State’s cardamom heartland, farmers have been raising alarm over mounting crop losses caused by bonnet macaques. With complaints flooding in and urgent calls for intervention growing louder, the Forest department has proposed a reclassification initiative aimed at mitigating the primate menace while not ignoring the protection status of the species.

Job J. Neriamparambil, Assistant Conservator of Forests, says many complaints have been received about the bonnet macaque, a common type of primate in the High Range Circle areas, which is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“We will table the farmers’ complaints before the Chief Wildlife Warden and submit a report to the Union government demanding that the bonnet macaque be moved from Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act to Schedule II. When the animal is reclassified in Schedule II, the Forest department could prevent its menace,” says the official.

Prabhu, a cardamom farmer in Kumily, says a large number of bonnet macaques are arriving on the plantation and destroying the plants.

“We are using firecrackers to drive away the animals, but when the farmers leave the plantation, they return. I am spending nearly ₹1,000 a week for buying crackers,” says the farmer.

Serious threat

Stany Pothen, chairman, Cardamom Planters Federation, says the cardamom farmers are facing a serious threat from the macaque menace. Compared to other animals, these primates are destroying entire plants, and there is no way to stop them.

“We can prevent the entry of wild pigs, including other animals, through the use of solar fencing and other fences. But there is no possible solution to prevent the menace of the bonnet macaques. At a time, a group of 100-odd bonnet macaques raids the plantation leaving the crops fully damaged,” says Mr. Pothen.