Wildlife experts say feeding monkeys sweets and other human foods at Jaipur’s Galtaji temple is contributing to the spread of hyperkeratosis, a painful skin condition affecting the site’s macaques and langurs. Reports from the Galtaji Mandir area describe monkeys with hair loss, cracked and dry skin, bleeding wounds and reduced mobility, with some reportedly unable to walk, jump or climb. Experts attribute the illness largely to diet changes caused by excessive offerings such as sweets (including laddoos), biscuits and other processed foods, which they say can trigger skin problems and dehydration-like dryness. They note that monkeys’ natural diet typically consists of roots, fruits, vegetables and leaves.
Officials say they are responding with awareness campaigns targeting visitors and warning boards installed around the temple to discourage feeding sweets and processed items. They also describe efforts to treat affected animals as difficult due to the monkeys’ agility, with municipal teams deployed to capture and shift infected monkeys for treatment, including to Jaipur’s zoo. Experts add that changing public feeding habits is key to preventing further spread.
