Bhandarkhal Religious Forest located in the Pashupati Area of Gaushala has been encroaching by nearby people. As the Gaushal area is very crowded with buildings it is sure that everyone's eye will be on the empty area. People of that area started encroaching on the place by removing seedlings and making it a playground. Now, they are using the area to play badminton, and crickets, perform yoga and running
Since the Pashupati Area is mainly famous for Assamese Monkeys due to encroachment monkeys started to flee to nearby houses around the forest area in search of food and habitat which is causing human-wildlife conflicts. Monkeys go inside the houses in search of food causing the breaking of things, fighting with the dogs and people causing injury to both the animals (monkeys and pets) and people as well.
While crossing the roads to go to nearby houses road accidents are causing which is killing monkeys. According to reports in the year 2022 alone (till now), more than 10 monkeys are killed in road accidents and many have been injured.
When we asked homeowners around the Bhandarkhali Forest Area about this problem they said, “Forest is the home of wildlife so the government especially the division forest office and Pashupati Guthi Santhan should have to look after this scenario and make proper planning and management”.
But when we reach Pashupati Guthi Sansthan to talk on this topic, officials of the Guthi Santhan said whenever Guthi Santhan cultivates plants by removing the playground and limiting the people's access to the Bhandarkhal, local people always remove the seedlings and even break the gate and walls around the Forest Area so what we can do ?’
It seems like there is a conflict of interest between Guthi Santhan and the local people as a result monkeys are dying. So, rather than blaming each other every one should understand and work at their own level to solve the issue to save wildlife as well as prevent human-wildlife conflicts.