The number of monkey attacks and bites on humans has skyrocketed by a staggering 95% in the Galiyat region of Abbottabad during the current summer season. Wildlife experts are attributing this alarming trend to tourists feeding the monkeys, which disrupts their natural behavior and lifestyle.
According to a medical official at Kalabagh Health Center, approximately 56 cases of monkey attacks and bites have been reported in Nathiagali, Dunga Gali, Bara Gali, and other nearby areas from 2023 to August 2024. This figure represents a significant increase from the 19 cases recorded in 2023 alone.
When treated for monkey attacks or claw injuries, patients are advised to receive anti-rabies vaccinations to prevent future health complications. The growing monkey population in the region, combined with the influx of tourists during the summer months, has contributed to the rising number of attacks.
The Manager of WWF Pakistan blames tourists’ feeding habits for the monkeys’ altered behavior. “Feeding monkeys in Galyat and other scenic areas has interfered with their natural eating patterns, causing problems for locals, wildlife protectors, and visitors alike,” he observed. The monkeys have their natural food sources in the forest. However, by providing them with additional food, tourists and locals are disrupting the natural process and making the animals dependent on humans.
The increase in monkey herd size has also been identified as a contributing factor to attacks on humans. A survey conducted in the 1980s found that monkey troop sizes ranged from 40 to 44. Today, however, the troops have swelled to over 100, and the availability of food from tourists and roadside junk has encouraged them to migrate from dense forests to human-populated areas.
Feeding monkeys is damaging the ecosystem. By providing them with human food, we are depriving them of their natural instincts and making them reliant on humans, which can have negative consequences for the environment.
The shift from natural food to human-provided items is also affecting the ecosystem. Monkeys play a crucial role in regenerating plant species by distributing seeds through their feces. By altering their diet, they may inadvertently disrupt this natural process.
A Field Assistant with WWF-Pakistan concurred that tourists’ feeding habits are the primary reason behind the change in monkeys’ behavior. He noted that the animals have become completely dependent on human food, often snatching or stealing food from human settlements, leading to increased conflict and attacks.
Tourist families while visiting the Galiyat region look forward to spotting a rare wild mammal interesting enough to present a new spectacle for their children’s travel diaries. Yet the vacation plans can go awry when a seemingly innocent monkey frolicking around a child turns out to be the vicious ringleader of a human-blood-thirsty monkey gang.
One such unfortunate family was that of Adil, a local from Peshawar visiting Nathia Gali, whose 9-year-old son was brutally attacked by a troop of monkeys in the garden of their resort. “Like other children, my son was fascinated to spot monkeys on vacation. However, after some time a whole herd of monkeys attacked my son, biting his arm and leg, which started bleeding profusely. After getting him bandaged at the Kalabagh clinic, we went back to Peshawar, where my son was given four doses of the anti-rabies vaccine for Rs 2,500 each,” Adil said.
Apart from children like Sajid’s son, even adults like Amina, another tourist from Peshawar, were not safe from the aggressive attacks of monkey troops. “Since the past 10 years, my family and I have been spending our summers here in Galiyat. I often used to feed the monkeys for fun. Recently, I went outside the rest house with some bananas in my hand and after spotting a monkey, I threw the fruit towards it. In no time, an entire troop of monkeys started surrounding me and all of a sudden, one of them jumped on my back and injured me with its claws. Although I managed to escape, the wounds I sustained required dressings for three weeks,” recalled Amina.
If a case of bite and claw injury is suspected, doctors ask them to get vaccinated, which must be administered immediately otherwise the victim can face health issues in the future.
Human interference has disturbed the natural habitat of the monkeys in the Galiyat and Margalla regions, where a lack of food has forced most of them to move closer to human populations. Since monkeys are prey for leopards and cheetahs, these trends have reduced the food available for their consumption hence the big cats are seen attacking humans in the hills of Abbottabad, Galiyat and Margalla. When the rich ecosystem is not maintained, both the prey and the predator are disturbed. If we do not control these challenges in time, this seemingly small problem will definitely prove to be a huge threat.
Although no formal survey has been conducted by the Wildlife Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to identify the total number of monkeys in Galiyat, a rough estimate indicates that nearly 10,000 to 12,000 monkeys exist in forests with pine trees but in recent times have migrated to areas in close proximity of human settlements.
In Dec 2024, a monkey died from electrocution in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills National Park. It triggered urgent calls for stricter regulations and heightened public awareness regarding human interactions with wildlife.
The incident involved a rhesus monkey fatally electrocuted while climbing power lines in search of food. This marks the third such fatality in recent months, underscoring the growing dangers of human feeding habits.
According to Sana Raja, a wildlife rescuer, the monkey climbed the electrical infrastructure in search of food scraps left by park visitors. She believed human feeding has conditioned the animals to associate humans with food, pushing them into unsafe areas like roads or power lines. Sana further said that human feeding disrupts the instincts of monkeys. Monkeys are highly intelligent and opportunistic creatures. When visitors feed them, it conditions them to associate humans with food.
This not only leads to unnatural behaviors but also draws them into hazardous environments, such as roads or areas with electrical infrastructure.” She added that the overpopulation of rhesus monkeys in the park is a direct consequence of human feeding habits. Their numbers have grown manifold over the years, causing increased competition for resources, injuries, and aggression toward humans. Many monkeys suffer severe health issues from eating trash, including fungal infections in their digestive systems.
Environmental experts have raised concerns about the broader ecological impact. Feeding wildlife disrupts ecosystems. Monkeys and other animals may abandon their natural diet, leading to malnutrition and aggression within populations. This not only affects their health but also creates an imbalance in the ecosystem, putting undue pressure on human-animal coexistence.
Many park visitors expressed regret over the monkey deaths, admitting they were unaware of the consequences of their actions. “I thought I was helping by sharing my snacks with them,” one visitor admitted. “Now I see it’s more harmful than I imagined. I’ll think twice in the future.”
Others shared their sorrow and emphasised the need for stricter rules. “It’s heartbreaking. We need better education and enforcement to stop this,” said Sadia Babar, a frequent visitor to the park.
These deaths of the monkeys were preventable. Harmful practices should be discouraged; Park rangers can intensify patrols, distribute educational materials, and urge visitors to follow park rules prohibiting feeding and littering. The public must understand that their actions have consequences. By respecting park guidelines, visitors can play a crucial role in safeguarding our wildlife and ensuring a safer environment for all species.
To prevent further tragedies, conservationists and environmentalists are advocating for stricter penalties for violations, increased signage to educate visitors, the Installation of monkey-proof waste bins to discourage scavenging and ongoing public awareness campaigns.