Efforts to capture and sterilize toque macaques have encountered significant obstacles due to resource shortages at the Giritale Sterilizing Centre. A lack of veterinary surgeons, transport facilities, and other necessary resources has caused the project to come to a standstill, Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Gamagedara Dissanayake, revealed at a Matale District Coordinating Committee meeting.
While the Chairman of the Matale Agricultural Crop Conservators Society, D.M.B. Daudasekara, described the sterilization initiative as a productive long-term solution, he urged authorities to streamline the project to ensure its success.
However, leading environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwella raised concerns about the effectiveness and potential risks of sterilizing toque macaques. “Sterilizing monkeys—whether male or female—extends their lifespan. If their natural lifespan is ten years, sterilization could increase it by another decade. This means they will continue seeking food and potentially cause even greater crop damage during their extended lifetime,” Ranwella explained.
He also warned that sterilizing certain species of toque macaques could push them toward extinction, calling for careful evaluation of the ecological impact. Instead, Ranwella proposed addressing the root causes of the issue, such as improper food disposal.
“Monkeys are drawn to villages when leftover food is discarded openly. Proper disposal of food waste can significantly reduce their presence in human settlements,” he suggested.
With these differing perspectives, the future of the sterilization initiative remains uncertain, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to manage the toque macaque issue effectively.
