Rogue Meat-Eating Monkey Terrorizes Mannagudda Neighborhood; Residents Seek Urgent Intervention

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Share

Mangaluru : A solitary monkey has created widespread panic and distress among the residents of Kantharaj Lane in Mannagudda for the past two years, prompting locals to lodge formal complaints with civic bodies. Fed up with the animal’s persistent antics and aggressive behavior, the troubled residents have now escalated the matter by writing to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), the Forest Department, and the local MLA, desperately seeking a permanent solution.

The lane, tightly packed with houses and bordered by connecting roads on either side, has a few central trees that serve as the perfect sanctuary for the primate. Residents complain that the monkey boldly enters homes the moment a door is left ajar, ransacking kitchens and escaping onto treetops with clothes, food items, and whatever else it can grab. Local women have expressed immense fear, noting that the monkey frequently leaps from branches and lunges toward them even while they are washing clothes in their backyards.

Interestingly, the animal has familiarized itself with the regular faces of the neighborhood and shows absolutely no fear of them, though it acts cautious around newcomers. Active from 5:00 AM in the morning until 11:00 PM at night, its non-stop movement has turned daily life into a nightmare for the locals. In a bizarre twist of behavior, the monkey has also developed an unusual dynamic with the neighborhood pets; while it acts friendly with some local dogs, it simultaneously tortures them by biting their skin and pulling their tails to the point of injury.

School-going children are currently the worst affected by this menace, as the primate routinely chases and intimidates them during their morning and evening commutes. Parents are now forced to escort their children everywhere, as the fear of being hunted down by the monkey has completely discouraged children from stepping outside to play, creating an atmosphere of constant anxiety.

Compounding the problem is the monkey’s unique adaptation to an urban lifestyle: it has developed a distinct taste for fish and meat. Locals reveal that the animal has largely abandoned its natural diet of fruits and now actively scavenges on non-vegetarian food waste discarded by the households. This steady supply of meat is believed to be the primary reason why the monkey refuses to leave the locality.

The situation turned dangerous about two months ago when the monkey launched an unprovoked attack on a local woman, scratching her severely. The victim had to undergo extensive medical treatment and was administered a total of 12 injections, with doctors warning her to remain highly vigilant. Following this gravity of events, the Forest Department has finally deployed personnel to the spot, setting up cages and nets in a coordinated bid to capture the elusive primate.