Officials in Sri Lanka have carried out a nationwide census of nuisance wildlife, like monkeys and peacocks, to prepare countermeasures to protect crops.
Around 40,000 people were assigned to count the animals.
They counted the number of wild boars, lorises, peacocks and monkeys close to farms and homes within five minutes.
Officials say wild animals like elephants destroy more than a third of crops. These creatures are protected by law.
In 2023, the country’s agricultural minister proposed sending 100,000 toque macaques to Chinese zoos. The toque macaque is a reddish-brown-coloured monkey.
The idea was abandoned after protests from environmentalists.
