A job to scare away monkeys! Nobody can imagine that such a job can exist. But it does. Yes, this is a job opening in Siddapur, Uttara Kannada for the post of monkey waiting. Some students have completed their graduation degree or some other equivalent examination and earn Rs 20,000. Here, you can earn that kind of money just by walking a monkey away from the garden.
In the village of Siddapur, when people were disturbed by the constant looting of crops from their farm, the people there decided to hire someone to guard them against these notorious monkeys. People of the village, usually 10 to 20 houses together, decided who would guard the farms against the monkey. This person who will be given the responsibility will carry with him a licensed gun. He shall patrol the gardens to scare away the monkeys.”
This job starts as early as of 6:30 in the morning and can go on till 7:00 in the evening. The day is long, requiring constant vigilance. In the morning, the man who is responsible will carry a stick or a licensed gun and go around shouting to scare away any monkeys. If a troop comes which mainly consists of 50-60 monkeys, chasing them away is a tough task. But only a skilled villager will be able to do so as there is a different technique for it.
Eshwar Gowda has been doing the job of chasing away monkeys in the Keregadde-Kanchuguli village for the past 15 years shows the dedication required for this job. Guarding a 30-acre plantation is not as easy as one might think. There is always a fear of breaking a bone or getting hurt if he slips and falls because, during the rainy season, he has to work on slippery ground while keeping an eye upwards. Due to the heavy monkey menace in Siddapur, this job has become crucial for the locals there. Eshwar’s work involves not just physical endurance but also a deep understanding of the local environment and the behaviour of the monkeys.
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