Hanuman Langur
This is the one of the rowdiest
relatives of mankind, at least in India. Remember not to take any
edibles (especially fruits, sweetmeats and nuts) to temples without
packing them safely in your bags. Hanuman langurs are experts at
depriving you of your food. and those living near temples are
particularly adept at this art. Not just temples, even the Indian
Parliament is not out of bounds for them. For the past few years, the
parliament has been losing a ‘few important files’, thanks
to these simian creatures that react quite adversely if left unfed
during the lunch hour. But when threatened, they retreat immediately.
The animal is considered sacred, and every Tuesday, people offer
fruits to Hanuman langurs to propitiate the monkey-god ‘Hanuman’.
¤ The Messengers To The Jungle
In the jungle, langurs form the most powerful ‘vigilance system’
against tigers. They have an extremely keen eyesight, and from their
superior vantage point, they keep the jungle informed about each and
every movement of the tiger. However, in rare cases, the langur itself
can fall prey to the tiger.
Langurs have an intimate social system and it is a common sight to
see them combing the area in big groups. They are mainly herbivorous
and their diet includes leaves, flowers, fruits, roots and even the
poisonous portion of many plants normally avoided by most other
animals. They are found all over the subcontinent, with a particularly
large troupe residing in the Himalayas.
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