By Babra Wani
Armed with wooden sticks and stones, a man in blue gave chase to a monkey. In response, a troop of the animals scattered towards a nearby forest. This scene unfolded in Hutmurah, a village in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, situated on the route to the tourist destination of Pahalgam.
For residents of Hutmurah, such incidents have become all too familiar. They have been enduring year-round intrusions by monkeys, with the animals increasingly encroaching on their homes and farmlands. “They damage our crops and vandalise our vegetable gardens,” said a local. “They eat the seeds and destroy our trees and fruits, causing significant losses. They even enter our homes, creating havoc and leaving us terrified.”
A woman from the village shared that the monkey regularly stole food from kitchen gardens. “They eat brinjals, gourds, cucumbers, fruits—even rose plants. They chew through branches, even when they bear no fruit,” she said.
Villagers Under Siege
The monkeys often arrived in droves, triggering panic among villagers. “Living here has become nearly impossible,” said one resident. “They enter homes, damage goods, and have even scratched rooftops.”
Locals reported several incidents of monkey attacks. One woman explained that on days when the monkeys roam in groups, residents are too frightened to step outside. “We prefer staying indoors. It is chilling to even imagine walking alone down the alley with monkeys around,” she said.
Hutmurah, with around 800 households, rely heavily on apple orchards as its primary source of income. “My cousin came from Srinagar and was sitting in our garden when five monkeys appeared and began eating vegetables. She panicked and threw stones, but they ignored her and began mocking her instead. She was left visibly terrified,” said a young woman who wished to remain anonymous.
The village have been experiencing monkey intrusions for over a decade. “Initially, we believed it was due to the proximity of the forest,” said a resident. “But as they began vandalising our village, we repeatedly appealed to the authorities. We even hired guards. We are exhausted.”
Community Defence and Fading Hope
To manage the intrusions, villagers began raising funds—between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000—to hire help. “Three to four men from the Bakerwal community now assist us,” said a resident. “They are like our saviours. Even the monkeys seem afraid of them.”
Initially, orchard and walnut tree owners bore the cost, but eventually the entire village contributed. These men use loud sounds to deter the animals and keep watch from dawn to dusk between May and September. “We requested them to stay year-round, but being Bakerwals, they are often on the move,” the resident added.
Another villager, Ahmad Mir, recalled that the Forest Department had sent two officials to address the issue, but the effort was unsuccessful. “After that, we began hiring these men ourselves,” he said.
The severity of the problem have escalated over the years. “At first, they stayed nearly half a kilometre away from our homes and only came for fruits and vegetables,” said Zareena, a resident. “But around 2010, they began entering the residential areas two or three times a week. Now, they come every day, causing constant damage.”
Zareena described a personal encounter when a monkey tried to attack her while she was in her garden. “I tried to shoo it away, but it came after me. I threw water at it to protect myself, and only then did it run away,” she said.
“Many of our neighbours have been injured. Once, three monkeys chased my daughter as she returned from school. Her screams alerted a nearby shopkeeper who rescued her. If he had not been there, I do not know what might have happened. It has been over four years, but she is still scared at the sight of monkeys.”
