Ahmedabad: The monkey population in Ahmedabad has nearly doubled over the past five years, sparking concerns about increasing human-animal conflicts. According to data released by the state government, the city’s monkey population has surged from 2,200 in 2018 to 4,609 in 2024.

As a result of the rising monkey population, the forest department’s helpline now receives two reports of monkey bites daily on average, along with about 10 rescue calls—a noticeable increase from just six a few years ago.

This year, Ahmedabad recorded 366 monkey bite incidents in the first nine months, a sharp increase compared to 180 cases in 2023 and 179 in 2020. Experts believe that the feeding of monkeys by residents, coupled with a lack of fruit-bearing trees in the city, is exacerbating the problem. Monkeys often become aggressive when they don’t receive the food they expect.

Forest officers are now suggesting a translocation approach, similar to the one implemented in Delhi, to manage the growing monkey population. DeshGujarat

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