Abandoned baby monkey dies after Neral mishap

Navi Mumbai: The death of a baby monkey on the Neral-Matheran ghat section road has raised concern over the alleged inept handling of wild animals. Two mishap-hit monkeys had fled into the forest abandoning the baby monkey on the road. An animal lover took it to the Neral forest office but was redirected to leave the infant at the same spot. However, as the monkeys did not return till late night, the animal lover took it to his home and provided powder milk but it died Thursday morning.

The incident was reported around the Jumma Patti section of the ghat road.

The animal lover had waited at the spot where the abandoned baby monkey was found but its mother did not return. Later, forest officials directed him to take the baby to his home and release it into the wild the next morning.

Range forest officer of Matheran, Umesh Jangam, said, "The infant was provided with powdered milk. The animal lover was told to return to the spot for a reunion as per procedure followed... it's nothing wrong." —Umesh K Parida