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Muga Silk Rearers in Assam Estimated Average Damage From Rhesus Macaques at 68.6%

Rhesus macaque on a litchi tree in Tezpur, Assam, India
Conservation · Human–wildlife conflict

A study of human–macaque conflict in Assam, India found substantial reported losses among households involved in muga silk production. In the Dhakuakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur district, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were reported to raid outdoor rearing areas for muga silkworms (Antheraea assamensis) and damage host plants used in sericulture. Muga silkworms are reared outdoors, and the authors note that the larvae become especially easy prey when they stop feeding and remain immobile during moulting.

The researchers combined direct counts of macaques with interviews at 24 households during 2024–25. Across the surveyed households, respondents estimated damage to muga sericulture activities at 40% to 80%, with an average of 68.6%. Respondents described losses at several stages of production, including damage to host plants and predation on silkworm larvae before cocoon formation.

Reported crop losses were severe

Households estimated average earnings from muga cultivation at ₹70,625 per crop. The reported financial loss attributed to rhesus macaques ranged from ₹10,000 to ₹150,000, averaging ₹36,041 per crop. The authors also report that many rearers had converted part of their rearing land to small tea gardens or taken up daily-wage work as they tried to maintain their livelihoods.

Knowledge of newer mitigation methods was limited

Knowledge of newer mitigation methods was limited. About one-third of the rearers were aware of measures such as solar-powered deterrents or monkey sterilisation, while 75% expressed a positive attitude towards adopting new technologies. None of the surveyed rearers reported actually using these newer methods at the time of the study.

Sources and image credit

  1. Hazarika, T., Saikia, P., & Phukan, B. (2026). Impact of the invasion of the rhesus monkey in muga cultivation area: A case study in the Dhakuakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur District of Assam. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 16(2), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2026/v16i25282Primary research article published 12 February 2026. The survey covered 24 households in 14 villages and reported mean damage of 68.57% to muga sericulture activities and mean financial loss of ₹36,041.66 per crop.

Image: Horshadeep Saikia — rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) on a litchi tree in Tezpur, Assam, India, 7 September 2020; representative Assam image, not a study animal. Source: Wikimedia Commons. · CC BY-SA 3.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ · Source

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