Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU – The Government of Nepal has officially declared monkeys as “agriculture-harmful wildlife” for a period of one year, allowing farmers to take protective measures without fear of legal consequences.
The Ministry of Forests and Environment published the notice in the Nepal Gazette, specifying that wild red monkeys (Macaca mulatta) are considered a threat to crops and agricultural lands for one year.
Under this declaration, farmers are now authorized to chase, drive away, or capture monkeys that enter their private fields, orchards, or gardens and damage crops. In the event a monkey is captured, it must be handed over to the nearest national park, wildlife reserve, division forest office, or relevant subordinate office. Farmers are also required to inform their local ward office about such actions.
Importantly, if a monkey dies while being chased or captured, the farmer will not face any legal penalty. The process must be documented with the presence of a ward representative and at least five local witnesses. Farmers must immediately report the incident to both the concerned forest office and the ward office.
Furthermore, the relevant offices are required to submit a detailed report of all monkeys killed or captured to the Ministry and Department every two months.
However, this regulation does not apply within protected areas such as national parks, wildlife reserves, or national forests. Monkeys inside these protected zones cannot be chased or captured under this provision.
This decision is part of the government’s efforts to mitigate agricultural losses caused by wildlife while ensuring proper reporting and monitoring mechanisms.
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