Ahmedabad: Rising incidents of attacks and an increasing number of rescue calls has led the forest department to initiate Ahmedabad’s first-ever monkey census, which experts say, could shift the approach to addressing the issue from a complaint-driven rescue model to data-backed conflict management. The ongoing survey comes amid growing concern over feeding of monkeys including langurs, near temples, vegetable markets, in housing societies and on open grounds.This online survey before a full-scale census is launched has an extensive 27-point questionnaire asking respondents about the troop size, the role of improper waste disposal, types of nuisances created by monkeys among others.For the survey, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas have been divided into zones, and field data is being collected via a structured format circulated on Google Forms to residential societies. Officials said after the survey, there will be a trial census to determine the most effective counting method before a full-scale census takes place.The proposal for the survey, which is being led by the Ahmedabad Social Forestry Circle under researcher Deepa Gavli, was moved by deputy conservator of forests Minal Jani and approved by the state forest department.Chief conservator of forests K Ramesh, the project’s nodal officer, said that with rescue operations repeatedly triggered by public complaints, Ahmedabad needs hard numbers on where monkeys live, how many there are, where they breed, how they move and how often they enter homes or trigger conflict in residential areas. According to Ramesh, the final census is expected to capture male-female ratios, breeding status, movement routes, seasonal trends, tree cover, roosting sites and conflict-prone zones. The findings will help reshape rescue and response strategies, including decisions on capture, release and team deployment in high-conflict pockets, he said. Reiterating that monkey numbers are increasing and so are rescue calls, Jani said the forest department wants to strengthen the system by identifying where conflict is highest and understanding how habitat, food access and seasonality influence monkey presence in urban neighbourhoods.Officials say Ahmedabad records frequent emergency calls of monkey bites, attacks and the primates entering homes in search of food. The department has identified 198 locations monkey presence is a recurring issue. Vastrapur, Navrangpura, Thaltej, Bopal, Ghuma, Ambawadi, Paldi, Shahibaug, Chandkheda, Kubernagar, Naroda, Narol, Sabarmati, Bilasiya, Maninagar and Asarwa are among the worst affected. A senior officer said that what was once treated as a harmless or charitable act of feeding monkeys is now being linked to aggression, dependency and repeated conflict. The official added that as Ahmedabad prepares to host international events, the presence of langurs can create a negative impact. “Even the Metro, when it crosses Sabarmati river, has to stop or honk to scare the monkeys aways,” he said.The forest department has intensified awareness drives and enforcement, warning that feeding monkeys including langurs is a punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. A first offence can invite a fine of Rs 25,000, while repeat violations could lead to imprisonment.
