Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chalise: Nepal's First PhD Holder on Monkeys Discusses Human-Monkey Conflict and Solutions
Summary
Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chalise, Nepal's first PhD holder on monkeys and leading primatologist, discusses the human-monkey conflict, monkey species in Nepal, and practical solutions for managing crop damage and improving coexistence.
Key Points
- Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chalise is the first Nepalese to earn a PhD on monkeys and a leading primatologist at Tribhuvan University.
- Nepal has three main monkey species: langur, 'pahare' (Assamese), and red monkeys, with the red species causing the most crop damage and disturbances.
- Dr. Chalise emphasizes research-based management of monkeys, including studying food preferences, population, and targeted relief to farmers.
- He advises against large-scale culling or sterilization of monkeys and advocates site-specific measures, compensation for damage, and crop alternatives to resolve human-monkey conflict.
