WHERE is the central ground?

Residents of some areas in Murang’a Country especially around Maragua are distressed and disgusted. The distress has persisted for quite a while and they are now crying out for help and calling out government and administrative agency including the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to offer assistance.

Reportedly, they have been annoyed and harassed a lot by ‘Theerus’ (the Black – faced or Vervet monkeys) whose population has apparently risen to over 300 of the ape species according to residents’ estimates.

According to reports on Mass Media, the monkeys have been attacking their farms in droves devouring their already mature and maturing crops including maize, fruits such as avocados, macadamia & bananas and even uprooting arrow roots and sweet potatoes among other tubers. In the process, the apes have also been destroying most of the crops in the farms before retreating to their abode in the nearby forests and even in scattered trees.

With time and their exploits, according to the worried and agitated residents, the apes have increasingly been emboldened. They are now attacking livestock and especially goats with the residents fearing that they could now ‘rape’ the goats often left tethered and unguarded in open spaces.

Apparently, the apes seem to be on a dangerous destructive sprees and mission and with a majority of the young men in such areas (who would otherwise offer their mothers and sisters protection) being hooked to alcoholism and always being away in town centers idling like zombies, the danger to the residents is real and palpable .

Reportedly, the apes no longer fear women including women who imitate men by wearing trousers and other men regalia. They mock and chase away any women who try to confront them in efforts to stop the apes naughty, cheeky and destructive behavior and activities.

The apes appear to only fear men and respond and retreat only when men take action.

… Recently they have even been defecating on their palms and then throwing the faeces towards the residents, the women and children… .

Further, they have recently been boldly gaining access into houses through open doors and windows with some even found occupying seats in lounges and after entering kitchens eating any cooked and uncooked foods….

In a nutshell, the monkeys are now a destructive force threatening lives and livelihoods of people. Women and girls are especially living in fear of harassment and even getting bitten or being sexually harassed especially when the apes attack during the day when most of men have left homes to travel to work or perform other duties away from homes.

Such reports highlight the increasing human beings – wildlife dilemma & conflict in the country.

Some pertinent questions emerge.

.. For instance, are human beings encroaching too much on wildlife areas?

Are we realizing the dangers of climate change where wildlife is being pushed away from its habitat and moving into already humans habitated areas seeking food and water?

Are the wild animals multiplying much more faster than human beings who in recent years and generations have embraced birth & population control measures almost at a fault?

Is nature, possibly annoyed with man who has tended to destroy it with all manners of activities as opposed to wildlife whose only major activities are feeding and roaming the wild spaces at minimal destruction costs?

What could be amiss and the genesis of what appears like a wildlife that is aggrieved with its human beings species counterparts?