With a steep decline in the forest area due to large-scale commercialisation, the population of monkey is witnessing a sharp increase in Kasauli tehsil owing to loss of habitat in the last few years. Scores of big and small hotels and resorts have come up in every nook and corner of the Parwanoo-Dharampur stretch of National Highway-22 and the Dharampur-Kasauli road. This has led to the clearing of the forest area. Even nullahs, which serve as passage for rain water, have not been spared. An adverse fallout of this is the reduction in the natural habitat of monkeys. Simians are now venturing into towns for food. Apart from destroying maize and fruit crops, these have been attacking women and children in semi-urban areas. Permission accorded to operate nature camps in forest areas is also responsible for reducing the natural habitat of monkeys. This move to allow investors to run hotels in forest areas has further affected the natural habitat of simians. The sterilisation programme of the Forest Department seems to have had a limited impact. The monkey population has been witnessing a significant rise after the breeding season every year. Simians can be seen lined up along National Highway 22 and invading houses. These even enter kitchens by forcing open doors not bolted. The Kasauli-based Central Research Institute routinely receives cases of monkeybite, with most of the victims being women and children. The Wildlife Department has been planting 30 per cent fruit trees, but this is a long-term strategy. No short-term measure has been taken to address the problem of simians in semi-urban areas.