Tourist feeding blamed for monkey aggression

The number of monkey attacks and bites on humans has skyrocketed by a staggering 95% in the Galiyat region of Abbottabad during the current summer season. Wildlife experts are attributing this alarming trend to tourists feeding the primates, which has disrupted their natural behaviour and lifestyle.

According to Dr Wasif, a medical official at Kalabagh Health Centre, approximately 56 cases of monkey attacks and bites have been reported in Nathiagali, Dona Gali, Bara Gali, and other nearby areas from 2023 to August 2024. This figure represents a significant increase from the 19 cases recorded in 2023 alone.

When treated for monkey attacks or claw injuries, patients are advised to receive anti-rabies vaccinations to prevent future health complications, Dr Wasif said. The growing monkey population in the region, combined with the influx of thousands of tourists during the summer months, has contributed to the rising number of attacks.

Wildlife experts, including Muhammad Waseem, Manager of WWF Pakistan, have blamed tourists' feeding habits for the monkeys' altered behaviour. "Feeding monkeys in Galyat and other scenic areas has interfered with their natural eating patterns, causing problems for locals, wildlife protectors, and visitors alike," observed Waseem.

Waseem emphasised that monkeys have their own natural food sources in the forest. However, by providing them with additional food, tourists and locals are disrupting the natural process and making the animals dependent on humans.

The increase in monkey herd size has also been identified as a contributing factor to attacks on humans. According to Waseem, a survey conducted in the 1980s found that monkey troop sizes ranged from 40 to 44. Today, however, the troops have swelled to over 100, and the availability of food from tourists and roadside junk has encouraged them to migrate from dense forests to human-populated areas.

Daud Khan Yousafzai, an MPhil scholar, echoed the sentiment that feeding monkeys is damaging the ecosystem. By providing them with human food, we are depriving them of their natural instincts and making them reliant on humans, which can have negative consequences for the environment.

The shift from natural food to human-provided items is also affecting the ecosystem. Monkeys play a crucial role in regenerating plant species by distributing seeds through their faeces. By altering their diet, they may inadvertently disrupt this natural process.

Sajid Hussain, a Field Assistant with WWF-Pakistan, concurred that tourists' feeding habits are the primary reason behind the change in monkeys' behaviour. He noted that the animals have become completely dependent on human food, often snatching or stealing food from human settlements, leading to increased conflict and attacks.