Lawmaker Suggests Sale to China
selling monkeys to China.
During a deliberation on the matter, Ram Hari Khatiwada, a member of the Nepali Congress, referenced Sri Lanka's experience of selling monkeys to China as a potential model for Nepal. He argued that this approach could serve as a practical solution to mitigate the problem while generating revenue for the government.
"The monkey menace has induced nationwide terror," Khatiwada stated. "Sri Lanka sold its monkeys to China, earning revenue, managing the monkeys, and sending the harmful animal away. Nepal's monkey, after being declared harmful, has there been any arrangement for its sale to China or not? In the Hilly areas, the residents are struggling hard due to the menace."
Despite ongoing efforts, the government has yet to find effective measures to control the monkey population, which continues to plague the hilly regions of Nepal. Millions of rupees have been spent on studies by the provincial Ministries of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, but these studies have refrained from recommending stringent measures due to the religious significance of monkeys in Hinduism.
the Rhesus macaque, the Assamese monkey, and the Hanuman langur. However, international trade in Rhesus monkeys is restricted as they are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Furthermore, Nepal's national laws also prohibit the export of wild animals and plants without government permission. Violators face imprisonment and hefty fines. While the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act includes the Rhesus monkey on the list of protected animals, it lacks specific measures for controlling protected animals that pose a threat to people and agricultural production.
The lawmaker's suggestion has sparked debate, raising questions about the feasibility and ethical implications of selling monkeys to China. The government is yet to respond to the proposal, and it remains unclear whether this unconventional approach will be adopted to address the monkey menace in Nepal.