Skip to main content top
::: Current Location: Home > News > Local News > Tricks to Keep Monkeys Away

Tricks to Keep Monkeys Away

2015-11-10

In an effort to lessen damage done to fruit done by Formosan rock monkeys, which in turn leads to losses for farmers, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan held the “Monkey Control Demonstration Event” at the orchard of Qiu Shao-hua in the town of Chenggong on the morning of November 11. Director Chen Hsin-yen stated that damage to crops by the Formosan rock monkey has been a long-standing and extremely challenging problem for the whole of Taiwan, and fruit seems to fare the worst, causing immense losses for growers. In response, the TTDARES developed a mesh covering as well as a complete set of measures to prevent monkeys from damaging fruit. After three years of experimentation in orchards all around Taiwan, the results have been very promising, and the techniques were offered to any who wish to try such methods. At the beginning of the event, assistant researcher Chen Yi-jun described the behavior of Formosan rock monkeys and how they go about damaging fruit, informing growers on the most important aspects of how to deal with these pests. Chen then continued to describe the design, use, and handling of the mesh coverings as well as what is currently known about their effects. Chen then described the use of the mesh coverings and strategy applied to Qiu’s farm. Later, team leader Zhang Xu-ping of the Chenggong Furong Valencia Orange Production and Marketing Team and Qiu shared their experiences regarding use of the mesh coverings. Both were quite happy to promote the new technology as, according to them, it is easy to use and has produced great results.

Director Chen Hsin-yen hosts the event. Assistant researcher Chen Yi-jun describes techniques and strategies for keeping monkeys away from trees. Grower Qiu Shao-hua shares about his experience using techniques and mesh coverings developed by the TTDARES.

Those present asked many questions about techniques on keeping monkeys away from trees. Mesh coverings being used on navel orange trees.

Back to Top