Kerala - Kollam   

Sumptuous Onam feast for monkeys

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists on a mission to save Maruthi hillock and the primates

A RARE GESTURE: The monkeys of the Maruthi hillock enjoying the Onam feast hosted by environmentalists on Thiruvonam day.

KOLLAM: Environmental activists hosted a sumptuous Onam feast to the monkeys at the Maruthi hillock at Muttara in Kollam district on Thiruvonam day.

The hillock, which has a mythical aura around it, is facing the threat of destruction from a couple of granite quarries. Environmentalists at Muttara, with the backing of Greens all over the State, have been on a mission to save the hillock for the past three years. The quarries have become a threat to the traditional habitat of the monkeys — but they do not know where to go. To add to their woes, an authorised plantation has come up on top of the 1,200-foot high hillock. More than 30 of them were found poisoned to death one morning four years ago.

It was then that the environmentalists stepped in — to save the monkeys and the hillock.

Following pressure from the environmentalists, the quarrying has come down (it has not been fully stopped) and the owner has deserted the plantation. The environmentalists want the hillock to be developed as a tourist attraction.

Since the movement began, the environmentalists have been ensuring protection of the monkeys. They go to the hillock and feed the monkeys regularly. They have been hosting the Onam feast to the monkeys for the last three years. The monkeys arriving to savour the feast by itself is a feast for the eyes.

This year, the Onam lunch was served on 30 banana leaves. At first the senior male monkey arrives and tastes the meal on almost all the leaves. When he finds that there is nothing wrong with the food, he signals to the other primates and they rush to enjoy the meal that comes once in a year.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Sumptuous Onam feast for monkeys
Jungle cat gets trapped in house at Eravipuram
Reviving a sinking tradition
Plea to operate all counters at Kollam railway station

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu