The Maharashtra government on Monday has increased the compensation for capturing monkeys involved in human–wildlife conflict to Rs 600, which is up from Rs 300 per animal, sources told NDTV.
The decision comes as a response to the increasing number of complaints about monkeys entering residential areas and farmlands and destroying properties causing disruption for locals. The revised rates have come into immediate effect.
Officials say the higher payout is aimed at incentivising trained rescuers and agencies to respond more actively and efficiently to such incidents. By making the process financially more viable, the government hopes to improve the speed and scale of conflict mitigation efforts.
Once captured, the monkeys are relocated away from human settlements as part of the state's broader strategy to reduce repeated encounters.
The revised compensation has been formalised through a Government Resolution (GR) issued on April 22. The decision builds on a standard operating procedure (SOP) introduced in April last year for the safe capture and release of conflict-prone species such as rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and langurs (Semnopithecus entellus).
Under the earlier GR, the maximum expenditure for such rescue operations, including logistical costs, remains capped at Rs 15,000 per case, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
Human-monkey conflict continues to pose a significant challenge in parts of western Maharashtra and the Konkan region. Districts such as Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg have reported frequent incidents, with crop damage remaining a major concern for farmers. In Ratnagiri alone, more than 5,600 monkeys were reportedly involved in conflict situations between 2024 and 2026.
Monkey-related incidents have also been reported in Mumbai's Borivli East, where residential areas share boundary walls with Sanjay Gandhi National Park, as well as in Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon East and parts of Thane and Mulund.
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