Rare monkey raised in Jaidev Thackeray’s house dies

“The little chap was so ill that he even had trouble urinating and defecating. Its hind feet were paralysed when he was brought to me. I was treating it symptomatically while trying to zero in on the precise nature of the problem when it suddenly vomitted in the afternoon and died,” he adds.Like most vets, most of Dr Patil’s patients are dogs and cats so it took a while for him to arrive at a precise diagnosis.

“Moreover, one has to be careful with small animals with so little body mass as they are very delicate,” he sighs.

Inquires at Jaidev’s Yeoor Hills’ residence in Thane revealed that the monkey had been brought to the bungalow in February. The domestic staff say he had been bitten by a mongrel from the neighbourhood when it was let free in the garden. “It was out for just five minutes and the dog attacked it,” one of them said, adding that “the boss had been informed.”

Stating that the African Marmosite is not found in India, Isaac Kihimkar of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) told The Indian Express that the simian is an endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

“Unfortunately its soft toy-like appearance makes it a prime target for animal traffickers, who find a huge demand for these monkeys.” He confirms that persons importing the animal would require a special permit from the central government. Deputy Conservator of Forests (Thane), S Wadhwa, adds: “The veterinarian should have informed us when he received the animal. We shall soon contact him to ascertain details and the circumstances of its death.” But Dr Patil feels otherwise. “As vets, our first priority is to treat the animal,” he remarks, addmitting that he should have informed the authorities.

Meanwhile, a keen animal enthusiast, Jaidev had run into trouble with the law in October 1998, when he was found hunting deer in the Yeoor Hills. Repeated attempts by The Indian Express to contact Jaidev drew a blank.