India employs 'monkey-men' in preparation for G20 summit
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The "monkey-men" mimic the voices of langur monkeys to scare away the smaller rhesus which are known for destructive behavior in urban areas.
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A monkey eats an ice cream along the roadside on a hot humid day in New Delhi on August 6, 2023 (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
In anticipation of the impending G20 summit, Indian officials have taken an unconventional approach to protecting the meticulously arranged floral displays intended for the summit by employing teams of "monkey men" at various checkpoints around the city, AFP reported.
New Delhi's city council has engaged the services of over 30 "monkey wallahs," or "monkey men" individuals adept at mimicking the aggressive calls of langur monkeys – the natural predators of the smaller rhesus macaque primates that frequently cause disturbances in the city's lush government areas.
Acknowledging the challenge of relocating the langur monkeys from their natural habitat, the vice-chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council, said they would be deploying a team of 30-40 men who are trained to scare away monkeys. These specially trained individuals will be stationed at delegate hotels and areas with reported monkey activity.
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Rhesus monkeys pose significant issues, frequently damaging gardens and rooftops, not to mention that they occasionally exhibit aggressive behavior toward people.
The Delhi metropolitan has undergone an extensive beautification drive since India assumed the G20 presidency last year.
Amid concerns that marauding rhesus monkeys could inadvertently disrupt the motorcades of presidents and prime ministers from G20 nations, the council sought assistance from the "monkey wallahs".
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In addition to the "monkey wallahs" langur voice mimicking, life-size cutouts of langur monkeys will be strategically positioned to deter the smaller rhesus macaques, with plans to relocate the cutouts periodically to maintain the illusion.
While the city once relied on men with trained langurs for patrolling, this practice was discontinued due to court rulings deeming it inhumane to keep these animals in captivity.
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Scheduled for September 9, the two-day G20 Summit 2023 is set to commence at Delhi's Pragati Maidan, specifically at the Bharat Mandapam venue. High-profile attendees including heads of state, government officials, and delegates from member countries, alongside G20 invitees, are converging on Delhi for this significant event.
Notable figures anticipated to be in attendance comprise US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The theme for India's G20 Presidency is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'.
