PESHAWAR: The wildlife department on Monday rescued nine Rhesus monkeys from a shrine in Parova tehsil here despite strong resistance from the caretakers and devotees.

The action was taken over a video going viral on social media highlighting the plight of monkeys which were kept in poor condition at the shrine, Dera sub-divisional wildlife officer Manahil Wahab said.

Talking to this news agency, she said the wildlife team under her supervision raided the Shaki Shah Hussain Sherazi shrine and rescued the monkeys.

The caretaker of the shrine and devotees showed strong resistance in handing over the monkeys and even hurled threats of dire consequences, Ms Wahab said. She said the monkeys were found in very poor condition tightly chained at neck and also tied with ropes.

Five monkeys were found in front portion of the shrine, while a search led to recovery of four others from different portions.

All the monkeys were later shifted to Wildlife Park in DI Khan and later may be shifted to Peshawar Zoo, she added.

She said the department had seized a monkey from the same shrine around a month earlier.

Ms Wahab said the wildlife department would approach court for legal action.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2021