Impact of the Invasion of the Rhesus Monkey in Muga Cultivation Area: A Case Study in the Dhakuakhana Sub-division of Lakhimpur District of Assam

Abstract

Human-Macaca mulatta conflict due to raiding in muga i.e Antheraea assamensis (Helfer) cultivation is one of the major problem affecting different villages of Dhakuakhana block of Lakhimpur district.To investigate this, we made a study on their population distribution and assessed various socio-ecological parameter through visual count and with information received from villages, during the year 2024-25. In all, we surveyed in fourteen villages covering twenty-four households and calculated data on the percentage damage to silkworm larva rearing, shift in occupation, measures to mitigate locally, economic loss incurred by rearers, estimated earning annually, any other pest damage to the sericulture with the help of questionnaire in conflict villages of Dhakuakhana. We noted an average number of 367.14 individuals spanning in an area of average 2.6km causing livelihood damage of 68.57%  incurring an average financial loss of  Rs 36041.66 per crop thereby , shifting their livelihood activities from muga culture to Tea plantation and daily wage earning.The results from our study indicates that the impact of rhesus monkey is causing serious threat to the livelihood of the rearers therefore, thorough study in the conflict zone to device special mitigations measures is need of the hour.