Feb 16, Kathmandu - The Government of Nepal has announced a one-year declaration designating certain wild monkeys as "agricultural harmful wildlife." The Ministry of Forest and Environment issued a notification in the Gazette, officially recognizing wild red monkeys as pests that damage crops.

Farmers will now be authorized to individually or collectively chase, scare away, or capture monkeys that enter private fields, farms, or gardens and cause damage. Any captured monkeys must be handed over to nearby national parks, wildlife reserves, district forest offices, or relevant authorities. Additionally, the information about the capture must be reported to the local ward office.

There will be no legal punishment for farmers who kill monkeys in the process of scaring or capturing them. The capture must be carried out under the supervision of a ward representative and at least five local residents, with proper documentation of the incident. Farmers must immediately inform the relevant forest office and ward office about the killing or capturing of monkeys.

Furthermore, the concerned offices are required to submit detailed reports of the captured or killed monkeys to the Ministry and related departments every two months. This regulation, however, does not apply within protected areas such as national parks, reserves, or within national forest regions where capturing or scaring monkeys is prohibited.