A Crop and property damages caused by Western purple-facedlLangur (Trachypithecus vetulus nestor) in villages bordering Danawkanda forest In Gampaha district, Sri Lanka
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Date
2015
Authors
Wijethilaka, W. P. S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Crop and property damages caused by western purple-faced langur (Trachypithecus vetulus nestor) are a serious problem associated with human-monkey conflict in Sri Lanka. This is a severe problem mainly faced by poor people who depend on agricultural production. Several methods have been used by locals to protect their crops and property from T. vetulus nestor, but they have yield ed less and the problem still remains. This study was conducted to identify crop and property damages caused by T. vetulus nestor in villages bordering Danawkanda forest in Gampaha district, to evaluate the economic loss due to the damages and to propose alternative methods to local people to mitigate the respective damages. The study was carried out for a period of six months from August 2014 to January 2015 in 12 villages bordering Danawkanda forest. Data were collected from 80 families in the 12 selected villages using a structured questionnaire, interviews with local people and field observations. T. vetulus nestor often damages economically important fruit trees and vegetable crops. They damage the whole plant or plant parts as they feed and move. Damages to crops included eating ripe and young fruits , buds, leaves and flowers , uprooting plants, smashing bushes and breaking relatively small branches and stems. Most common property damages were roof damages .T. vetulus nestor also caused disturbance to day today life of villages in ways such as scaring people and food pilfering. Economic loss due to crop damage was estimated to be around Rs. 2,700.00 per family per month. Property damage was Rs.l,500.00 per month per family (total loss was Rs. 4,200 .00 per family per month). Monkeys were often driven back by fire crackers and stones. Many other methods such as making loud noises, catapulting and electricity were also used as chasing methods. Most of the local people suggested planting short trees in the garden instead of many tall trees. Locals were sympathetic towards this animal and were against killing them. Methods such as growing decorative plants, removal of tall trees , adding short trees , growing ornamental plants instead of crop plants were preferred by villagers as alternative methods to mitigate the problem. Implementation of preferred methods would be useful to reduce crop and property damages caused by T. vetulus nestor in villages bordering Danawkanda forest.
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Keywords
Human-monkey conflict , Crop , Property damage , Economic loss , Trachypithecus vetulus nestor , Purple-faced langur