Indian government hires monkey-mimickers to scare macaque monkeys out of New Delhi


Most people think "government contractor" is a fancy way of saying "bored, porn-watching desk drone." That's not the case in India, where city officials in the nation's capital of New Delhi have enlisted the help of some vocally talented individuals to fight off some furry intruders.
New Delhi's posh Central Delhi neighborhood also happens to be a leafy, green haven for macaque monkeys, who come from a jungle reserve just over a mile away. Because the monkeys are mischievous and can even be dangerous, the government needed a way to keep the macaques out of the neighborhood — without harming them, however, because monkeys are revered in Hinduism.
Enter the "monkey wallahs," which roughly translates to "monkey men." These government-hired men patrol the streets of Central Delhi imitating the calls of the macaque monkey's natural enemy: the larger langur monkey. The Indian government used to employ actual langurs to keep the macaques at bay, but a new wildlife law enforced about a year ago forbade keeping langurs in captivity. Instead, the New Delhi Municipal Council now enjoys the services of 40 monkey wallahs who grunt, hoot, and screech in their best langur accent to keep the macaques at bay.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
All this monkeying around is hard work, one monkey wallah, Mahesh Nath, told The Wall Street Journal.
"If it's a heavy day, then I might have to even give up my lunch break to shoo the monkeys away," Nath said. "I have to take care of my throat, it's critical to my job."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
'Immigrant' Superman film raises hackles on the right
TALKING POINT Director James Gunn's comments about the iconic superhero's origins and values have rankled conservatives who embrace the Trump administration's strict anti-immigrant agenda
-
Scientists and Peter Jackson attempt to bring back an extinct bird — kind of
In the Spotlight Colossal Biosciences was the company behind the 'resurrected' dire wolves
-
'Alaska has the resources, but America needs the will'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariffs
Speed Read He accused Brazil's current president of leading a 'witch hunt' against far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska