MP Shriram Neupane Proposes Dummy Tiger Solution for Monkey Menace in Parliament

Kathmandu. Ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Shriram Neupane has presented a story in parliament that a dummy tiger would be useful for controlling monkey menace. As the issue of farmers being unable to protect their crops due to monkey menace has been getting priority in parliament daily, he, presenting an example of a farmer from Tanahu, said that the menace could be controlled by using a dummy tiger. 

MP Neupane shared in parliament the experience of farmer Pahal Singh Gurung of Shukla Gandaki 3, Tanahu, whose orange orchard was successfully protected for two seasons by a dummy tiger bought for 1200 rupees. 

He mentioned that when the dummy tiger was placed in the orange orchard, monkeys did not come in the first year, and in the second year, the dummy tiger had to be moved daily, thus successfully protecting the oranges from monkeys for two years. MP Neupane demanded that the government install a dummy tiger system so that any crops could be protected if the dummy tiger is managed by adding technology. He also demanded that the government immediately bring a National Monkey Management Policy and declare affected areas as Special Monkey Protection Zones.

He said, ‘A farmer from my constituency told me on the phone this morning, Honorable Sir, let the roads and development be delayed. Please protect the crops from monkeys. This is not just a complaint. It is a serious crisis for Nepal's agriculture, farmers, and food security. Farmers in the hills are forced to guard their fields all day. Some have their maize destroyed, some their oranges, some their vegetable crops. Some farmers have been forced to migrate. Three days ago, I went to the orange orchard of farmer Pahal Singh Gurung of Shukla Gandaki 3, Tanahu, and heard the experience of a dummy tiger bought for 1200 rupees successfully protecting oranges for two seasons.’ 

He further said, ‘When a dummy tiger was placed in the orange orchard, monkeys did not come at all in the first year. In the second year, it had to be moved daily. In the third year, the intelligent monkeys did not fall for it. He narrated the story of the dummy tiger completely protecting the oranges for two years. Where a tiger lives, monkeys do not. There are many examples in villages where monkeys did not come in the year a tiger took goats from the shed. Monkey control is possible by adding modern technology as needed to the dummy tiger. Measures like a movable dummy tiger, sensor-equipped tiger roars, tiger-scented attractants, and bright lights in the eyes can yield good results at a low cost. The aim is not to kill monkeys, but to control them scientifically and in a new way. I make a clear demand to the government - bring a National Monkey Management Policy immediately. Declare monkey-affected areas as Special Monkey Protection Zones.’

MP Neupane also suggested that the government should consider monkey sterilization, taking into account the experiences of India and other countries.