Monkey rampage a menace to heritage- Study

Kathmandu, March 28 . Rampage of moneys is posing a serious threat to main heritage sites in the capital.
The conclusion was drawn based on a study carried out in Pashupati, Soyambhu, Patan Durbar, Sankhu Bajrayogini, Gokarneswor Mahadev Temple and Nilbarahi in the capital and Badimalika, Barahachhetra and Ramdi of Kaligandaki outside the Kathmandu valley.

The heritage sites are bearing higher number of monkeys beyond their capacity. Currently, Pashupati has 450 monkeys, Soyambhu 450, Sankhu Bajrayogini 100 and Nilbarahi 70, shared Dr Mukesh Chalise, who was involved in the study on monkey.

The authorities concerned have remained apathetic to the conservation of heritage sites though the monkey rampage is posing serious threat to the sites which are historically, archeologically, religiously and culturally significant, said the local stakeholders.

Ram Bahadur Kunwar, Spokesperson of Department of Archaeology, which is the nodal agency for the conservation of heritages, stressed the need to explore measures for protecting heritages from monkey rampage.

Monkeys are not only posing menace to the heritages but are also transmitting diseases to human beings. The epidemic diseases are being communicated to human being from monkeys, especially in the crowded heritage sites. However, doctors could not empirically establish the fact that so and so diseases were transmitted to human being from monkeys.

Diarrhea, tuberculosis, itching, stomach diseases and sexual diseases among others are being transmitted to human being from monkey in the heritage sites where human and monkey comes in contact.