According to Ramesh Bohara, Chairperson of Tripurasundari Rural Municipality-6, the monkeys died after jumping into the irrigation tank located at Bhanyang, Tekanpur-6.
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On Saturday, 27 monkeys drowned and died in an irrigation tank here. According to Ramesh Bohara, Chairperson of Tripurasundari Rural Municipality-6, the monkeys died after jumping into the irrigation tank located at Tekanpur-6, Bhanjyang.
Local resident Janak Bohara said that after hearing the troop of monkeys screaming in an unusually frantic manner, he went to check and saw some floating dead and others struggling in the water. “I always go to open and close the water in the morning and evening. This morning, I witnessed this tragic scene,” he said. “I heard the monkeys screaming in a slightly different way than usual, so I went to look at the tank. After seeing this, I informed everyone.”
He said that as the monkeys began jumping into the water one after another, seemingly trying to save those drowning, he called the villagers by raising an alarm. According to him, the villagers chased away the troop of monkeys that were about to jump into the pond. They rescued those that were struggling in the water. “At first, we were astonished, wondering what kind of disaster was happening,” said Bishwo Bohara. “We managed to save one or two. Twenty-seven died. It was very difficult to chase the others away.”
He said the dead monkeys were buried. As soon as Janak informed them, police and forest officials were also notified and joined the rescue of the drowned monkeys, said Tripurasundari Rural Municipality-6 Chairperson Bohara. “When we arrived, the dead monkeys were floating. The police and villagers together used bamboo poles to remove the monkeys,” he said. “The tank pond is about half full due to the monsoon.”
It is suspected that the monkeys may have jumped in either trying to save those drowning after seeing their own reflection, or imitating the actions of an elder monkey. “Anything is possible, but the incident has become somewhat mysterious,” said Tripurasundari Rural Municipality Chairperson Bhaktadhoj Bohara.
Previously, in 2076 BS, 16 monkeys drowned and died in a pond near the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Chautara–Sangachokgadhi Municipality–13.
However, monkey expert Mukesh Chalise said it is almost impossible that the monkeys jumped in after seeing their own reflection. “Monkeys can swim well. This may have happened in a rush to grab some food in the pond,” he said. “Or perhaps an electric current was run through the pond. Monkeys do not just jump in for no reason.”
He said this is the first time he has heard of monkeys jumping in collectively. “It is necessary to investigate,” he said.
