Balasore: A large troop of wild monkeys and flock of peacocks was spotted entering human settlements near Nilgiri in Balasore district on Monday.
As per the reports, in the Nilgiri NAC area, specifically in Ward No. 2, monkeys have been seen in large numbers, while in Jadida Gram Panchayat’s Jaganathapur village, peacocks are making their way into the area. This influx of wildlife is believed to be due to food shortages in their natural habitats. Nature enthusiasts have raised concerns that these animals are being forced to adapt to urban environments because of the lack of food and the uncontrolled entry into the forests.
However, in 2022, a campaign called “Clean Kuldiha” was initiated by the Kuldiha Forest Department and Berhampur Police in the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. During this campaign, efforts were made to remove encroachers from the forest, with the promise that all encroachments would be cleared. However, after a few days, the campaign was halted and encroachment has been on the rise again. As a result, the recent arrival of these wild animals in urban areas has become a growing concern for locals.
The residents suspect that the animals may have come from the Kuldiha forest or nearby mountains. However, the reasons behind this sudden migration remain unclear.
