On May 13, Mr. Ung Dinh Hien - Vice Chairman of Binh Son District People's Committee - said that the district had sent a document to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Ngai province, proposing to relocate the herd of wild monkeys in Binh Tan Phu commune, Binh Son district.
According to local residents, the monkey herd has about 100 monkeys. However, through a survey, the local government determined the actual number to be about 4060 pigs, living in the area of Thinh Thinh mountain, Phuong Hoang mountain and some primeval forest clusters in Binh Tan Phu commune.
The situation of monkeys overflowing into the fields to destroy crops has occurred many years ago, but in small numbers. However, from April to now, the area of crops bitten by monkeys has increased rapidly, concentrated in Dien Loc, Nhon Hoa 1, Nhon Hoa 2 and Phu Nhieu 2 villages.
The monkeys do not operate centrally but divide into small groups of 1015 monkeys, taking turns destroying crops, causing heavy damage to the people. Recently, the local government has promoted and mobilized people to use manual repelling measures, and disseminated regulations related to wildlife protection so that people do not trap or kill monkeys.
According to the People's Committee of Binh Son district, if the monkeys continue to breed quickly, the damage to crops will become increasingly serious.
Binh Son District requests the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to advise the People's Committee of Quang Ngai Province to consider and direct specialized agencies to develop plans to relocate monkeys to natural forests far from residential areas or bring them to nature reserves.
