Vilangad (Kozhikode, Kerala): Though it was something that broke out his heart, Pullppally Joshi of Valook in Vilangad here had no choice but to cut off the crowns of 18 fruit-bearing coconut trees. The decision came after a troop of monkeys, which had become a persistent menace, began climbing the trees—plucking down tender coconuts and fully grown ones, only to throw them.

Joshi was forced to take this drastic step at a time when coconuts were fetching record prices. Now, only six coconut trees remain, standing at a slight distance from his house.

"Life is more important than coconuts. What is the use if my family suffers, even if we get a good price for them?" Joshi’s helplessness reflects the grim reality of increasing human-wildlife conflict.

Joshi’s house is in Ward Three of Narippatta Panchayat. His livelihood depends on farming coconut, areca nut, pepper, nutmeg and cassava. However, frequent crop destruction by wild boars and monkeys has forced him to give up farming and take up work clearing bushes.

Earlier, he used to harvest plenty of coconuts. But with the worsening monkey menace, even if the yield from the trees is plucked once in six months, he does not get enough to cover labour costs.

According to him, the monkey attacks occur both day and night. They climb the coconut trees, pluck the coconuts—both mature and tender—and throw them at people in his house. The threat was such that his wife and children became too scared to step outside.

Joshi has two children. If they step out, the monkeys throw coconut husks at them. His wife, who works under MGNREGA, cannot leave the children alone at home. Joshi said the monkeys do not create trouble when he is around, but he cannot stay home all the time as that would leave the family without a livelihood.

Even people riding two-wheelers on the road near his house travel with caution, fearing monkey attacks. The monkeys climb into the coconut trees in his courtyard, pluck coconuts and throw them onto the road. Fed up with the situation, which took a toll on his peace of mind, he decided to chop off the crowns of 18 well-yielding coconut trees, including their leaves and bunches.

A complaint was previously lodged with the Kuttiadi Forest Office, citing the inability to cultivate coconut due to the monkey menace. A financial aid of Rs 4,000 was provided at the time. However, no further assistance or measures to control the menace have been taken since.

Joshi urges the government to take action against the monkey menace. Many farmers in the Vilangad and Valook areas are suffering severely due to wild animals. He laments, with a sense of despair, that farming is nearly impossible due to the persistent threats from wild boars, bison, elephants and other wildlife.