Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 20 June 2025
The long-standing coexistence between humans and monkeys in Great Nicobar Island is rapidly deteriorating, with an alarming rise in aggressive behaviour exhibited by the Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque. What was once a largely peaceful human-primate relationship has, over the past decade, transformed into a persistent threat—particularly in villages along the North-South Road corridor and the Campbell Bay region.
Residents, particularly farmers, are bearing the brunt of the growing monkey menace. The Nicobar Long-tailed Macaques, previously non-aggressive and quick to retreat when confronted, now display open hostility during encounters. Locals report that when efforts are made to chase them away from plantations, the monkeys no longer flee but instead retaliate with aggression—sometimes even attacking the individuals.
The root of the crisis, locals believe, can be traced back to the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. In the wake of the disaster, many settlers relocated to Campbell Bay and were housed in temporary shelters. With no road connectivity at the time, vast stretches of agricultural land remained unguarded, offering the monkeys unchecked access to coconut plantations and other crops for nearly seven to eight years.
Although resettlement in old villages has since been completed, and efforts to re-establish regular agricultural practices resumed, the damage appears to have been done. The monkeys, emboldened by years of unhindered access, have become territorial and violent. Several farmers have reported direct confrontations where they narrowly escaped injuries while defending their fields.
The problem, however, is not confined to the North-South Road villages. Even in Campbell Bay, monkeys are frequently seen venturing into residential zones, homes, and public institutions such as the Primary Health Centre (PHC), where their aggressive presence is now well known. Locals walking through isolated areas have also reported being threatened or chased by monkeys, further underlining the extent to which the animals have lost their natural fear of humans.
The economic cost of the monkey menace is mounting, with continuous destruction of crops and properties. Frustration is now turning into unrest, with community members voicing their dissatisfaction over the inaction of the forest department. Talks of scientific mitigation strategies—such as the planting of fruit-bearing trees in forest to divert monkey activity and other measures—have so far yielded no visible results. The current status of any such interventions remains unknown to the public.
With the situation worsening, residents fear that a serious incident is inevitable. The growing boldness and aggression of these primates has created an environment of daily fear and uncertainty, and many believe it is only a matter of time before someone suffers grievous harm—or worse.
There is a growing chorus across Great Nicobar for immediate and effective intervention before the monkey menace claims human life.
