A baby Bonnet macaque was rescued in Mumbai`s Chembur after it fell into an open oil tank and got separated from its troop. Volunteers from SARRP India rushed to the spot after locals reported the incident.
The monkey was taken to the Animal Welfare and Rehabilitation Centre (AWRC), where Dr Deepa Katyal cleaned and treated it for exhaustion and minor injuries. The young macaque is now recovering and will soon be handed over to the forest department for rehabilitation.
Experts warn that such incidents reflect how urban waste and human negligence endanger wildlife. The Bonnet macaque, native to southern India, faces growing threats from shrinking habitats and unsafe waste disposal.
“This could have been avoided with simple care — we must learn to share our cities responsibly,” said SARRP volunteer Rohit Kattimani.
Once fully fit, the baby will be handed over to the forest department for rehabilitation and eventual reunion with its troop or relocation to a suitable natural habitat.
The Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), native to southern India, is a highly social primate species often spotted within Mumbai city. However, increasing urbanisation and careless waste disposal are putting these intelligent animals at risk. Feeding them with food and sweets also poses risks of infection and lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Moreover, the Bonnet macaque has been classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List and moved to Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Animal welfare groups urge citizens to dispose of waste responsibly and keep lids tightly closed on containers that can trap small animals. “This incident could have been avoided with simple care,” said a SARRP India Spokesperson. “Human negligence continues to threaten species that are just trying to survive alongside us.”
For now, the little macaque’s story has a hopeful ending — a second chance at life, thanks to the quick action of Mumbai’s compassionate rescuers.
