Stuffed tiger toys have taken over the duty of guarding the maize fields from the farmers in most parts of eastern districts. Farmers find it effective to place tiger dolls near their maize fields to scare away the monkeys.
Monkeys are a big menace to maize growing farmers in the east. Throughout the season, farmers have to guard their maize from the monkeys. Most maize fields are surrounded by thick jungle, making it ideal for the monkeys to raid the maize fields. A family member has guard the field, every day, until the season is over.
Of late, tiger toys have taken over their duty. Farmers place tiger toys at the edge of their maize fields to scare away the monkeys. This method has proved effective in many parts of Trashigang.
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Besides scaring away the monkeys, the tiger toys also work as an early warning system for the farmers. Monkeys scream a lot on seeing the tiger dolls, which alerts the farmers.
“When monkeys see a tiger toy, they climb on the tree and screams a lot. Then slowly they go back and do not come back for about a week or two,” said a farmer, Tshewang Gyeltshen.
A tiger toy costs about Nu. 3,000. Many farmers find it expensive to buy them. The frequency of monkey attacking maize filed of farmers, who cannot afford to buy tiger toys, have increased recently.
