Dateline Delhi: Monkey Business

There is much buzz about monkey security patrols in Delhi.  During the October Commonwealth Games, a contingent of thirty-eight highly-trained langur monkeys were deployed.  The langur’s mission:  To keep packs of delinquent rhesus monkeys in line.

Marauding Monkey Menace

It is estimated Delhi has over 10,000 small rhesus monkeys and they are a huge public nuisance. They have invaded parliament, the Prime Minister’s office and vandalized various government buildings.  They ride the metro trains, hang in clusters from overhead wires and drop down on unsuspecting pedestrians. They steal glasses and valuables from tourists and sometimes bite and scratch.  Then they nonchalantly bathe their babies in ceremonial fountains.

Monkey Management Solution

Various approaches to managing the packs of vandals have been unsuccessful.  Now langurs are trained to help take care of the problem.   Langurs are large long-tailed pale grey monkeys with black hands and faces. Their thick bushy eyebrows give them a serious, rather disapproving air.  When on patrol they ride upright and alert on small seats on the back of their handlers’ bicycles like schoolmasters on the lookout for trouble.  When they spot it they chase off pesky packs.  Their teeth are sharp they are not afraid to fight for right.  One has already been lost in the line of duty during the games.

Langur Training

Langurs, who take several years to train, live with their handlers. Delhi has twenty-eight on regular patrol. Ten more were brought in from Rajasthan State for the duration of the Commonwealth games. The boxing and hockey stadiums are especially vulnerable to the monkey menace officials say.

The Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games began as the British Empire Games in 1930 and were renamed in 1970. There are currently 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations. The headquarters are in London, UK and the Motto is Humanity – Equality – Destiny. This Olympic Style Event, which lasts for two weeks, includes sports played mainly in Commonwealth countries such as lawn bowls, rugby sevens and netball. This is maybe the first time that monkeys have played an important security role.

watch this video to see monkeys in action: