Stray langurs (hanuman) are often seen in different parts of Gangni upazila in Meherpur. Children enjoy their leaping and antics, but farmers are suffering. In Saharatala village of Gangni, at least 20 mother langurs have given birth, and villagers are now fed up. The troops destroy crops in the fields and sometimes even attack people.

With no forest, there is no langur habitat in Gangni. Stray langurs have been seen in different parts of the upazila since last year. Local people were pleased at first to see so many, but farmers are now exasperated.

The mothers have already given birth, and the troops leap from tree to tree. With too little food, they are now damaging crops. They shelter in bamboo groves or big trees, but when hungry they seize the chance to raid banana, maize, guava, plum (boroi) and other crops, eating some and spoiling much more. Farmers have tried bows and arrows and catapults to protect their crops, to no avail.

Local people claim that during the coronavirus pandemic these langurs came from other parts of the country and from India because of a food shortage, and have bred here.

Lattu Member of Saharatala village said the langurs had destroyed half the maize in his field, and had also eaten and spoiled papaya, guava and other fruit in his yard. At night they jump on the tin roof of his house. "They are helpless animals, so there is nothing to say," he said.

Banana farmers Rabiul and Rashid of Kunjanagar said the same. Village children feed the langurs, but the animals eat half and waste the rest, then climb trees and spoil the fruit. If food were arranged for them, the crops might be saved, they said.

According to one source, there are langurs in various places in Gangni, but their numbers are highest in the border villages and at the Bhatpara DC Eco Park. Last year Meherpur district received an allocation of Tk 45,000, and this year Tk 5 lakh. Food has been arranged for the langurs in Sadar and Mujibnagar upazilas, but none in Gangni, which is why the troops there are so bold. The Forest Department also has no count of how many langurs there are in the district.

Meherpur District Forester Zafar Ullah said langurs have come from various places and are increasing as they breed, which makes a count difficult. Even so, one survey found more than 500 in the district. An allocation of Tk 45,000 came first, and Tk 5 lakh has been received this financial year. Committees in Sadar and Mujibnagar have already arranged food for the langurs through tenders, and a committee will be formed in Gangni to arrange food there.

He said complaints had been received that the langurs are damaging local farmers' crops. "Since we cannot kill wild animals, local people are being encouraged to stay alert so that as little crop damage as possible occurs," he said. Anyone who applies to the Forest Department with the necessary evidence will be compensated, he added.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.