In the heart of Kerala’s cardamom country, Idukki, farmers are sounding a desperate alarm. Their precious cardamom plantations are under relentless assault from Bonnet macaques, leading to significant crop devastation. As complaints pile up and calls for help grow louder, the Forest Department has announced a major initiative: they’re pushing for a reclassification of these primates under the Wildlife Protection Act, hoping to address the threat without compromising species protection.
Prabhu, a cardamom farmer from Kumily, shares his daily struggle. ‘Huge troops of Bonnet macaques invade my plantation, destroying everything,’ he laments. ‘We use firecrackers to scare them off, but the moment we leave, they return. I spend almost ₹1,000 every week just on crackers!’ This constant battle is draining both his resources and his morale.
Stany Pothen, chairman of the Cardamom Planters Federation, emphasizes the gravity of the situation. ‘The macaque menace poses an existential threat to cardamom cultivation,’ he states. ‘Unlike wild pigs or other animals we can deter with solar fencing, there’s no easy solution for Bonnet macaques. Large groups, sometimes over a hundred strong, raid plantations, leaving complete destruction in their wake. Farmers desperately need immediate intervention.’
Pothen issues a stark warning: ‘If these macaque attacks continue at the current rate, the entire cardamom farming sector faces an unprecedented crisis.’
Urgent Appeal to the Centre
Job J. Neriamparambil, Assistant Conservator of Forests, confirms the influx of complaints regarding Bonnet macaques, a common primate in the High Range Circle. He highlights the core challenge: ‘These animals are currently protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.’
To address this impasse, the department plans to approach the Chief Wildlife Warden and submit a comprehensive report to the Union government. Their proposal: move the Bonnet macaque from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Act. ‘Reclassifying the animal would empower the Forest Department to take necessary measures to control their destructive behavior,’ the official explains.
Forest department sources acknowledge the severity of the farmers’ plight. ‘We fully understand the immense losses in the cardamom sector,’ a source admits. ‘However, under the current Schedule I status, our hands are tied. We are simply helpless without a change in their legal protection.’