Thaindian News

Chandigarh, March 14 (IANS) Langurs were inducted on the campus of Panjab University to drive away rhesus monkeys that had made life miserable for residents on the complex and the adjoining areas. But they have now lost the advantage to their smaller simian cousins who have turned out to be more cunning.

Langurs, used to drive away the rhesus monkeys due to their larger stature and aggressive nature. But they are now confused as rhesus monkeys have come up with tricks to outsmart them.

“We were successful in curbing the terror of monkeys to an extent but they (the monkeys) are really very clever,” the varsity’s Dean for Student Welfare Naval Kishore told IANS.

“We are surprised to see that monkeys know the timing of the langurs and they attack a different place at that time. Their behaviour is so human-like. They are really smart,” he added.

Panjab University had hired a total of three langur owners, two for taking the animal around the hostels and the departments in the day time and one at night. The owners of these langurs are paid Rs.6,500 per month.

“Now we are countering this issue by taking up a random schedule for the langurs’ visit. We keep them on the move whole of the day,” a varsity official said.

The monkey problem is not confined to within the university campus. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and several colonies in the vicinity also face depredations of the primates.

The services of a number of langur owners have been hired by different institutions and residential colonies to scare away the monkeys.

However, it is now being realised that using langurs to scare away monkeys is not a permanent solution.

“Gangs of monkeys come and keep jumping on the roof of UBS (University Business School) canteen. This is a common sight now. We have to be very careful if we take some eatables outside the canteen. And they are in good numbers and it is difficult to scare them off,” Shivani Chopra, a second semester student of M.Com, told IANS.

Chopra, who stays at the girls’ hostel in the university, further added: “The nuisance is not only in the departments but even more in the hostels. However you will find not even a single monkey if langurs are around.”

The monkeys which came from the upper hilly areas in search of food have now become habituated to the humans in Chandigarh. Hungry monkeys have been seen snatching food, intruding into houses and offices, scaring people and even biting people in case they try to defend themselves.

Aishwarya Sharma, a first year student, said, “I walk to the department every day from Sector 15. I often see many groups of monkeys. They are scary, but if you pass by ignoring them, they don’t harm you.”

The population of monkeys has increased in the last few years. The problem gets even bigger when people start feeding the monkeys as the animal is considered sacred in the Hindu religion, because it is believed to be close to the monkey god Hanuman.

(Ritika Sharma can be contacted at riti.xlnc@gmail.com)