Primates in Delhi Part II: The Vatavaran Trust Solution

The Vatavaran Primate Procession is the path that we shall follow in order to realise our goal of a monkey sanctuary, The Vatavaran Primate Estate, by means of a series of crossmedia intervention and events.

A team of Vatavaran experts, specialists from various fields, and volunteers will be involved in this process.

The Primate Procession aims to create awareness about the monkey problem as well as its proposed solution, and concurrently raise support and funds in order to achieve this
solution and provide an end to the ongoing monkey crisis.

for more information:
www.vatavaran.org/primate
primate@vatavaran.org

Primates in Delhi Part I: The Challenge

A letter to Ms.Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi

To: Ms. Sheila Dikshit, chief minister, delhi

Subject: Monkey Sanctuary in Asola Bhati Sanctuary

Dear Madam

We would like to offer our services for the management of monkeys in the human habitation areas of Delhi.

According to our studies the five problems with the existing system are:

1. the menace created by monkeys


2. bringing in langurs to disperse them


3. wrong methods of trapping


4. confining them in a cage in Rajokri


5. releasing them any where –if ever!

Vatavaran has a model to over come all of this. Our model requires participation by the Government, people at large and teams of experts.

The Government’s immediate role would be to allocate part of the Asola Bhatti sanctuary, for the creation of a Primate Estate. The area required is only 25 acres. Land near the hanuman temple located in the sanctuary would be ideal.

People’s role would be to contribute towards the making the sanctuary. Funds will be raised from corporate houses, religious bodies and people at large.

Vatavaran’s role would be to undertake awareness and fundraising campaigns, contact experts for technical support and involve the best monkey sanctuaries of the world in creating this Primate Estate.

A more detailed package with project information will be delivered to your office on Monday, 22.01.07.

We request you to allocate 25 acres in the Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary, near the temple, and obligue the people and monkeys of Delhi.

Thanking you,
Sincerely
Dr. Iqbal Malik, Ph.D.
Founder-Director
Vatavaran

www.vatavaran.org

Vatavaran Trust announces new programs to protect primates

overview

At present there are approximately 6000 monkeys in Delhi and 75% of them are in human habitation areas. Langurs brought in since 20000 have aggravated the monkey menace. The monkey cage at Rajokri is a small cage not conducive for monkeys and according to official records 200-250 monkeys can be kept there, leave alone 2000 that must be removed from Delhi immediately.


Vatavaran intends to undertake an awareness/fundraising campaign, Vatavaran Primate Procession with the goal of garnering public suppourt and funding in order to set up the monkey sanctuary Vatavaran Primate Estate in India. This campaign will consist of three phases as described below.


phase 1
Awareness and Fundraising efforts using print based and local level efforts in public sphere spaces such as colleges etc.

phase 2
Seminars, discussions, meetings and other larger scale public events to gather support for the cause.

phase 3
Inclusion of electronic (TV , radio) and web media into the campaign.
The expected time period is approximately one year, however based on the response from the Delhi Chief Minister and Rajasthan Chief Minister and support generated from corporate houses and religious bodies, making of the sanctuary can start concurrently. Due to lack of government support where funds are concerned Vatavaran plans on contacting corporate houses, religious bodies amnd the public at large. IPPL USA and UK have already agreed to contribute for the first phase of the awareness campaign.

25 acres of land near the Hanuman mandir of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified for Vatavaran Primate Estate. A reply from the government is awaited

The Vatavaran Primate Estate

vatavaran primate estate

The Estate would be a sanctuary for monkeys, set up in their natural habitat. It will have a total area of 25 acres , 75% of which would stay unaltered, in the natural way and the built area would not exceed 3%.

Vatavaran primate estate would be an eco friendly place in absolute terms. All construction would be in harmony with the natural habitat and only local materials would be used. Soak ways, septic tanks, pit for biodegradable, rainwater harvesting and use of photovoltaic energy would be integrated into the infrastructure.

The territory would be designed in away that animals of all hierarchies feel comfortable there. Overhead runs and pathways would interconnect the facilities. There would be "crush cages" at strategic points.

All major facilities would have double doors for people to come in and out of them.

High standards of personal hygiene would be ensured for all primate keepers to avoid any zoonotic infections.

The nutritional content of the diet for the monkeys would be as close as possible to that of their diet in the wild. The food would be stored off the ground with adequate provisions for air circulation. The areas used for the preparation of animal food would be scrubbed daily with a disinfectant followed by thorough rinsing.

Quarantine and health screening protocol for each animal would be maintained. Detailed documentation would be undertaken and data would be stored in central database.

components

The the list below highlights the various components in the Vatavaran Primate Estate

major components

1. The Holding Facilities will be 3/4th open green area and 1/4th built area. It would have 5 parts:
[a] Large green open area where monkeys would be housed as soon as they come. The area would be able to hold 500 to 700 monkeys at any one time. From here monkeys would go for their health check ups to b and c
[b] X-ray room
[c] Lab Facilities. After check up monkeys would go to either d or e
[d] House for monkeys suffering from non contagious disease
[e] House for monkeys with contagious diseases
2. Hospital — it would have 3 parts:
[f] Pre-operative room
[g] Operation theatre
[h] Post-operative room
3. Quarantine Center — It will have 2 parts
[i] Quarantine area for monkeys that will be handed over to CPCSEA(Committee for the control and supervision of animal experiments)
[j] Quarantine area for monkeys who would stay in the monkey home of the primate estate.
6. Monkey Home — Area where the monkeys staying permanently will be homed.
minor components
4. Disposal Site — monkeys which would not get cured of the infectious diseases would be buried here initially and later at some stage. If need be an incinerator would be installed
5. Misc. Area
[k] Store/Kitchen
[l] Parking area

advisors
Dr. Iqbal Malik, Primatologist, Founder Director Vatavaran
Prof.Carol Burman, Primatologist, State Univ. of New York Buffalo, USA
Gill Mately, Cornwall Monkey Sanctury, Cornwall , UK
George Kollias, School of Veternary Medicine, Cornell University, USA
Cyril Rosan, Secretary IPPL UK
Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman IPPL USA

experts
Dr. Manu Jaggi, Joint Director, Dabur Research Foundation
Dr. Vinod Sharma, Chief Managment Officer, Jeev Ashram
Dr. Ekwal Imam, Primatogist, Aligarh Muslim University
Dev Kabir Malik, Communication Strategist, Creative Director,
Dev Kabir Malik * Design