As Sri Lanka navigates the complexities of wildlife management and agricultural sustainability, stakeholders await further developments in the ongoing efforts to balance conservation goals with economic imperatives.
Sri Lanka is embarking on the second phase of testing intra-uterine devices (IUDs) on red-faced monkeys (or toque macaques) to manage their population, amidst mounting agricultural concerns and calls from farmers for more aggressive pest control measures.
The initiative, led by Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Ministry, targets toque macaques, identified as major crop pests in the country. Farmers have voiced frustrations over crop damage and are advocating for the use of air guns as a means of protection.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya recently announced funds to assist farmers in acquiring air rifles, a move supported by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, who distributed air guns to farmers cultivating pineapple, pomegranate, guava, and papaya earlier this year.
In parallel efforts, researchers from Sri Lanka’s Peradeniya University, in collaboration with Professor Ashoka Dangolla from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, have initiated trials to test the effectiveness of IUDs in controlling the monkey population.
“We have successfully inserted IUDs in eight monkeys, monitoring them monthly with X-rays,” Professor Dangolla explained to EconomyNext. “Our next phase involves introducing two or three male monkeys to observe mating behaviour and assess the contraceptive’s impact on female fertility.”
The decision to test birth control methods on wildlife comes after Sri Lanka delisted peacocks, grizzled giant squirrels, porcupines, wild boars, and toque macaques from its protected species list in February 2023. This move has prompted calls for more robust measures to curb agricultural damage.
While farmers have requested standard rifles for protection, the Agriculture Ministry has initially provided air rifles. Minister Amaraweera indicated a willingness to escalate measures if necessary, stating that standard rifles could be deployed if the situation deteriorates further.
Professor Dangolla emphasized that sterilization offers a more humane approach to population control, highlighting the challenges researchers face due to limited funding and resources.
As Sri Lanka navigates the complexities of wildlife management and agricultural sustainability, stakeholders await further developments in the ongoing efforts to balance conservation goals with economic imperatives.
Image: Wikipedia
