SANDAKAN: The swinging times of the havoc-causing silver leaf money at four residential areas here are numbered.
The state wildlife department is currently conducting an operation o catch the primates, says Sandakan wildlife officer Hussein Muin.
He said the one-month operation codenamed ''Ops Bius'' and beginning last Thursday, was aimed at putting an end to the nuisance caused by about 20 silver leaf monkeys at the residential areas in Batu 7, namely Rajawali, Merpati, Kenari and Nuri.
According to reports received, he said the monkeys entered the homes of residents and defecated in the premises, besides eating mangoes from trees belonging to residents.
"There are about 20 silver leaf monkeys believed to be inhabiting the forest area near the housing estates," he told Bernama here today.
Hussein said the operation involved three of its staff and two more from the state wildlife rescue unit. According to him, in the operation carried out on Thursday and Friday last week, two silver leaf monkeys were captured through sedation.
He said the monkeys captured would be examined by the department''s veterinary officer at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre before being released to the Sepilok Forest Reserve. – Bernama