Langurs have started encroaching on human settlements, destroying everything that farmers cultivate in Lnagthil, Trongsa. Farmers maintain that langurs, classified as old world monkeys which are found along the Mangdichhu basin, never used to invade vegetables and other crops in the past.
“In the past, we saw them around, but they never came near our settlements,” says Phub Zam, a local resident.
Elderly farmers said they never saw langurs on the ground during their childhood. But now this animal has become destructive in the locality.
“They never did any harm before. Now they eat our oranges. It has been about three to four years since they started creating problems,” said Tshering Chuki, another resident.
No one knows why the langurs their behavior, and farmers fear they might become an uncontrollable pest in the future.
Besides ripe fruits and vegetables, locals say, the langurs have even started eating chilies for the past five years.
Chasing them away is nearly impossible.
“When we try to chase the langurs, only the one that gets hit runs away, said Tshewangla, another local resident. “But the rest continue to stay. Other common monkeys run away when we chase them. So it is difficult to chase away the langurs.”
Using electric fencing has also proved ineffective.
