Baglung Municipality and Jaimini Municipality in Baglung district have unveiled a unique approach to address the problems caused by monkeys and stray dogs. In their budget, policies, and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, Baglung Municipality has proposed the construction of a dog hostel, while Jaimini Municipality plans to establish a dedicated garden for monkeys. Baglung Municipality has allocated a budget of Rs 1.5 million for the construction of the dog hostel.
The municipality aims to manage and care for stray dogs by providing them shelter in the dog hostel, according to Deputy Mayor Raju Khadka. He mentioned that individuals will also have the option to adopt stray dogs from the hostel. In collaboration with the Livestock Office, the municipality has already initiated the sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs to prevent rabies. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of stray dogs to zero, thereby mitigating road accidents and the spread of rabies. The municipality will cover all expenses associated with maintaining the stray dogs in the proposed dog hostel.
To ensure responsible dog ownership, the municipality requires residents to register their dogs with the municipality, renew their registration regularly, and have their dogs vaccinated against rabies. This proactive step was prompted by numerous complaints regarding the nuisance caused by stray dogs. The municipality mayor, Basanta Kumar Shrestha, mentioned that data collection regarding the population of stray dogs in the district headquarters is currently underway.
In a similar vein, Jaimini Municipality has set aside Rs 3.5 million to establish a garden specifically designed for monkeys. The municipality has allocated Rs 1 million for the project, with an additional Rs 1.5 million provided by the Gandaki provincial government.
Deputy Mayor Harihar Sharma explained that the municipality has been grappling with the growing problem of monkey-related issues, partly due to the migration of monkeys. In response, the local government has adopted a policy to create a dedicated garden as a solution. The project will utilize approximately 4,200 ropanis of land in the Old Village.
These innovative initiatives by Baglung Municipality and Jaimini Municipality reflect their commitment to addressing the challenges posed by stray dogs and monkeys. By providing a dog hostel and a garden for monkeys, respectively, these local levels aim to promote better management of these animal populations while ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.