A group of Chinese representatives have submitted a request to the Agriculture Ministry to provide Sri Lankan toque monkeys to Zoological Gardens in China.
A special discussion was held yesterday at the Agriculture Ministry to discuss the possibility of granting this request of in 100,000 toque monkeys to China under the first phase.
Officials representing the Agriculture Ministry , the National Zoological Department and the Wildlife Department participated in the discussion which was chaired by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
Minister Amaraweera said that steps should be taken to appoint a committee with the approval of the Cabinet to study the legal situation regarding the provision of Sri Lankan toque monkeys to a foreign country.
The minister mentioned that the comamittee should also include officials from the Agriculture Ministry, Department of Zoology, Department of Wildlife and the Attorney General’s Department.
A Cabinet paper is to be prepared for the immediate appointment of this committee.
It has been revealed that currently the toque monkey population of the country is close to three million. Toque monkeys are the foremost among the animals that cause crop damage in the country. All the efforts made by the government so far to reduce the population have failed.
The survey of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute has confirmed that the highest intensity or severity of crop damage has been reported from the toque monkeys.
According to surveys conducted in 250 agricultural development areas, toque monkeys has caused complete damage in 110 areas, severe damage in 235 areas and partial damage in 155 areas. Most of the damage caused by toque monkeys is reported from the North-Western Province.
However, it was also emphasized that when looking at the damage caused to crops in Sri Lanka by toque monkeys, it is a matter of happiness that another country came forward to get them.