Gangtok, Aug 25: The Sikkim government has taken the initiative against improper disposal of food waste, and now it will be treated as an offence in the state.

Feeding monkeys or improper disposal of food waste has created problems in the state and increased human-monkey conflict in Sikkim.

The Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department of the Sikkim government has issued the notice and said violators will be fined Rs 5,000.

Sandeep Tambe, a Chief Wildlife Warden of Sikkim, said in a public notice dated August 19 that human feeding of monkeys and improper management of food waste have resulted in unnatural growth in their population, due to which residents in urban and rural areas are facing instances of human-monkey conflict.

“As a result, residents in urban and rural areas are faced with increased instances of human-monkey conflict, which has now grown into a public health and safety issue. It is essential to recognise that feeding them and improperly disposing of food waste pose risks and concerns,” he added.

“Raising concerns over the rising human-monkey conflict, the notice said monkeys that are fed by humans lose their sense of fear, and now they have slowly become aggressive. Monkeys are wild animals, and their behaviour can be unpredictable. Feeding them encourages them to approach humans, increasing the risk of bites or injuries, especially to women and children, the notice stated.

Meanwhile, the state government has also appealed to the public not to litter with food waste in public places.

In Sikkim the people littered food waste in the public places for feeding monkeys. The population of monkeys has been increasing in the state.

Also read: Manipur: CoTU demands reimposition of AFSPA in state

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