The recent deaths of several monkeys in the Udawattakele forest reserve around Kandy town are believed to have been caused by poisoning. A PCR test carried out on one of the monkeys revealed that the death was not COVID-19 related.
Several monkeys were found dead in the forest reserve, but only one of the bodies had been sent for a PCR test amidst fears that the deaths were caused by COVID-19.
Historically Udawattakele was the Kandyan-era kings’ “thahanchi kele” — forbidden forest — that was restricted to ordinary people) and it had been the home of these protected Toque macaque (Macaca sinica) monkeys. Peradeniya University Veterinary Medicine Faculty Pathologist Kavinda Wijesundera told the Sunday Times the monkey had died due to poisoning and the animal tested negative for COVID.
He said they did not identify the type of poison, but instead left that procedure to the ]the Kandy Municipality.
He also said the samples could be sent to the Government Analyst for further examination. The species found at Udawattakele was endemic and was protected by the Flora and Fauna Act, even though they were sometimes a nuisance, especially during the rainy season when they could not find food.
Meanwhile, environmental lawyer Shantha Ratnayake PC said these monkeys had been present even during the time of the Kandyan Kings, and they had been protected even during that period.
Mr Ratnayaka said the wildlife authorities were responsible for protecting these animals and also finding ways and means to move at least some of these animals to an area where they could not interfere with people. He also said the wildlife authorities should try to identify how these animals had died in a forest reserve, not due to old age, but due to poisoning.
