Batu Caves operation on monkeys followed SOPs, says Perhilitan

 

Screenshots from a video showing a man who claimed to be from Selangor Perhilitan loading the carcass of a monkey onto a pickup truck. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A recent operation to “control the population” of “aggressive” monkeys in Batu Caves had followed the set SOPs, says the wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan).

Selangor Perhilitan maintained that it had acted on complaints from residents at an apartment about damage to property and threats to their safety.

It added that it had evaluated the location, type of disturbance caused by the animals and the seriousness of complaints from residents before carrying out the operation.

“The department worked with residents through the joint management committee of the apartment to instal traps as part of efforts to control the population of aggressive monkeys.

“There were no elements of cruelty (in the operation) as alleged. Staff members had carried out their duties based on the SOPs that have been set,” it said in a statement to FMT.

A video had gone viral showing two men, who claimed to be from Selangor Perhilitan, loading carcasses of monkeys onto a pickup truck.

Several SunwayMas apartment residents and the NGO, Lawyers for Animal Rights, later accused the department of killing around 20 monkeys there.

One of the residents, who filed a police report yesterday, also claimed that some of the monkeys were put in a cage and shot at point-blank range, while some carcasses were left behind, causing the area to reek of an unpleasant smell.

Lawyers for Animal Rights said the monkeys were long-tailed macaques, which were listed as a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, making it illegal to kill them.

However, Selangor Perhilitan denied that some monkeys were shot at point-blank range, saying the animals caught in the traps were sedated before being moved to the cages.

It added that monkeys caught in traps would be swiftly retrieved to ensure they did not die while snared.

“The department will never leave carcasses at the location of an operation.”

Selangor Perhilitan added that its staff were trained in using firearms, which was for protecting staff members in the event of an attack from violent animals.

It added that the apartment’s joint management committee was aware of Perhilitan’s presence and operation at the location. - FMT