Goats Versus Monkeys: The Scourges of Chota Tingrai Tea Estate

Idyllically located next to a meandering river and a protected forest, Chota Tingrai Tea Estate is not a place of hot tempers, or fierce arguments. But one topic does regularly round the debating circles- which is worse, goats or monkeys?

We haven’t been able to come to a conclusion. So we need your help. Below are the arguments from both sides as to why goats or monkeys cause more havoc on the tea estate.

Goats

• Goats damage tea bush branches: Goats don’t eat the tea bush themselves. But a goat considers a few snapped tea branches collateral damage in the search for scrumptious weeds.
• They steal cabbage: As a demonstration and training program, Mana has a two-acre organic vegetable garden. We have some of the most zesty cabbage you’ve ever tasted. Last month, I ate some every day for dinner. The goats love it too unfortunately. I haven’t had cabbage for dinner in the last week.
• Goats carry pests: As goats meander from section to section, insects hitch a ride in their fur to new parts of the garden. In this way, goats can make an isolated pest problem an estate wide emergency.
• Goats break fences: Say what you will about goats, they have determination. They let no fence stand in between them and delicious weeds. We have miles of “goat proof” fencing on Chota Tingrai. I still haven’t figured out what makes the fence goat proof. Neither have the goats.
• Goats damage drains: As the animals clamber up the shear sides of the garden drains, they claw into the earth. This hasten the natural erosion of the drains, causing considerable damage, and encouraging water logging in the rainy season.

Monkeys

• Monkeys also break tea bush branches: This time of year, we prune the tea bushes to promote new leaf growth. The monkeys find the naked bushes a perfect perch. As the monkeys scramble from bush to bush, they inadvertently break branches.

Monkey sitting comfortably in a pruned tea bush

• They steal peas: The Mana Organics vegetable garden has the sweetest peas you have ever tasted. I eat them raw as I stroll between the vegetable beds. Unfortunately, the monkeys also find the peas delicious. They have raided our garden countless times; gobbling up all the peas, corn, papaya – really everything but the cabbage.
• They damage roofs: They like to play on the corrugated metal roofs of the houses and factory. They do not intentionally do any damage, but when 30 monkeys have a WWC match on the roof, things break.
• Monkeys are noisy: Imagine trying to take a nap under said 30 monkey WWC match.
• They practice self-defense: unlike goats, monkeys will fight back. They have a good arm, and skilled aim with a rock.

So, what’s your opinion? Who deserves the title of top scourge of Chota Tingrai Tea Estate- monkeys or goats? Leave your vote in the comments below.