Monkeys raid coconut trees; inmates fear to step outside; 5000 coconuts gone without a single one left

Peruvannamuzhi (Kozhikode): The family of Madathinakath Johnson, a differently abled farmer living near Peruvannamuzhi, is living in fear as troops of monkeys invade their homestead, climbing coconut trees and throwing down coconuts. The situation has become so alarming that the family is afraid even to step out into the yard.

Johnson owns around one and a half acres of land with 54 coconut trees, which is the main source of agricultural income. Until a few years ago, the trees yielded nearly 5,000 coconuts annually. However, with monkeys now plucking and discarding both tender and mature coconuts, the family is left without any harvest.

The problem worsened to such an extent that Johnson was forced to cut down ten trees a few years ago. Two months ago, he had to remove yet another tree after monkeys began hurling coconuts onto the roof of his house.

This is not the first time Johnson has raised his voice against the menace. In 2021, he staged a hunger strike under the coconut trees, demanding that the Forest Department take action. Following discussions, the DFO had promised to install cages to trap the monkeys. Though around fifteen monkeys were captured and later released into the forest, the problem persisted without any relief.

Johnson complained that, in the current situation, if we stepped into the courtyard, coconuts were thrown at us. His house is located by the Onipuzha river, and monkeys cross over from the forest by leaping across tree branches to reach his farmland. Despite the farmer’s long-standing demand to cut these connecting branches, no action has been taken.

Apart from monkeys, other wild animals, including giant squirrels, wild elephants, wild boars, bison, and elk, are still entering farms, destroying crops. As a result, farmers in the region say that intercropping has become impossible.

Acting on Johnson’s latest complaint, Peruvannamuzhi Forest Range Officer A.C. Sudheendran and panchayat member Rajesh Tharavattath recently visited his farmland to assess the situation.