KRISHNAGIRI: On Tuesday, an unidentified vehicle ran over a monkey when the animal crossed the road at S. Muthukanapalli village, on the Denkannikottai - Hosur road here. Local villagers gave it a decent burial as they feared that its death in their village may bring them bad luck. The carcass was carried in a procession across the village before being buried in the place where it was killed.
According to locals, a monkey herd searching for water and food had moved out of the neighbouring forests and was staying permanently in villages where they are sometimes given food by local people or passers-by.
“One monkey died after being hit by a speeding car. We have plans to construct a Hanuman temple at the place where its carcass is buried,” R. Madhappa (50), of S.Muthukanapalli, told reporters.
Animal activists are against this, and say that changes in the behaviour of the primates is not because they are not getting food or water, but it's due to humans feeding them on the roadsides.
People believe that they will get the blessings of Lord Hanuman if they give food to animals that enter their villages. This attitude not only makes primates to stay permanently in these villages, where they get food regularly, but they also abandon the forests and become lazy.
“People may change their stand from considering the monkey as Hanuman to Vaali (who was killed by Rama) if monkeys become a nuisance to them,” said a forest staff said. He added, “In Delhi, feeding monkeys is punishable following the Delhi high court orders. Such an initiative is required in our state to save monkeys from trouble.”
