Animal rights protection bodies have taken a strong notice of the horrific details of deaths of hundreds of monkeys at the Gopalpur sterilisation centre in Kangra and demanded a judicial probe into the programme to contain the simian population. They have also called for a review of the programme and demanded that till that time there should be no more sterilisation of monkeys. Convener of Nature Watch India (NWI) and member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Rajeshwar Negi condemned the insensitive approach of the authorities and alleged that the entire method, right from the monkey census, the capture of animals and their sterilisation, adopted by the state was flawed and in blatant violation of provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The utter disregard for the prescribed procedures had led to the death of monkeys during the process of sterilisation. The defence of the officials concerned that the simians were being brought in a vulnerable condition did not hold good as it was the responsibility of the centre to ensure that the correct procedure was followed by the personnel engaged for the capture and upkeep of the animals at the pre and post-sterilisation stage. He said the officer in charge of the Gopalpur centre should be suspended immediately and an FIR registered against him for wilfully and negligently causing the death of animals under the Wildlife Protection Act. The Chief Wildlife Warden should be made accountable and transferred from his present responsibility. Negi pointed out that the decision to provide Rs 500 for catching a monkey was fraught with mischievous implications and was primarily responsible for the large number of deaths.