Can India Solve Its Macaque Conundrum With Contraception?
The science of controlling marauding, sacred monkeys, from the new book by best-selling author Mary Roach.
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“Simians Lay Siege to Agra,” blares a headline in the Times of India the week I arrive. It’s from a multi-feature full-spread special section, complete with signature two-color monkey menace graphic, the letter “O” taking the form of a fang-flashing monkey head. The lead story describes a baby fatally wounded after a rhesus macaque snatched him from his mother’s breast. “Earlier this month,” another Times piece states, “a bunch of monkeys had stoned a 72-year-old to death.” The National Herald has had Agra’s monkeys “in armies marching from one area to the other.” During the 11 months I’ve had Google on alert for monkey news in Delhi and Agra, Indian newspapers have reported eight lethal macaque “attacks.”
The Wildlife Institute of India, according to several of these articles, is working on a contraceptive vaccine. The Times of India wrote of a shot that would “‘sterilise’ the animal within minutes.” Here is the dream! Easily administered, long-lasting birth control for overpopulous, problematic wildlife. Before leaving for India, I was unable to confirm an appointment date by email with Qamar Qureshi, the institute’s director of research, and he has been out for the Diwali holiday. Dipanjan Naha, a researcher with the institute I met earlier, agreed to escort me onto the grounds so I could pester the man in person.
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