Various rewards have been announced for culling stray dogs in Kerala and either killing or capturing monkeys in Himachal Pradesh, according to reports.
The Old Students Welfare Association of St Thomas College in Pala, Kerala, has announced that civic authorities that kill the most number of stray dogs by December 10 will be rewarded gold coins , NDTV reported. The news follows the death of four persons attacked by dogs in the past four months and reports of around 700 people injured in similar cases.
A state-based industrialist had also announced rewards for culling dogs in Kerala. In 2016 alone, 53,000 people underwent treatment for dog bites in government hospitals, according to the NDTV report.
In early October, more than 120 dogs were killed in the span of a week. Animal rights activists have accused the state government of not stopping the culling despite a Supreme Court directive on the atrocity.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government has increased the cash rewards for those who catch or kill monkeys, which have been categorised as "vermin" in the state, The Indian Express reported. The prize for catching a monkey for sterilisation has been raised to Rs 700 from Rs 500, while the amount for killing the animal has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500.
Forest Minister of Himachal Pradesh Thakur Singh Bharmouri said, "The amount will be Rs 1,000 per monkey if any individual manages to catch 80% of a herd in a particular area." Farmers whose crops have been damaged by monkeys have dismissed the development as "ridiculous".
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!