How to prevent G20 summit from 'Monkey disruption': New Delhi's big headache
G20 summit, a quirky challenge has arisen for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) – how to prevent monkeys from obstructing G20 convoys on the central ridge while safeguarding the meticulously placed potted plants in the area. Situated in the natural habitat of these mischievous monkeys, relocating them is off the table. Thus, the NDMC, in collaboration with the forest department, has taken an inventive approach by introducing cutouts of langurs in the vicinity, with the hope that their simian counterparts would take notice, a TOI report stated.
However, officials are concerned that the stationary langur cutouts might lose their efficacy over time.
To counter this, the cutouts are planned to be shifted periodically, aiming to keep the monkeys on their toes. A high-ranking forest department official told TOI, «The cutouts of langurs have been installed at the boundary wall of central ridge along Sardar Patel Marg. These will be moved regularly so that the monkeys feel that real langurs are around.»
Elaborating on this strategy, NDMC vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay shared, «This is a kind of an experiment that we have tried.
If successful, we may put such cutouts in more places. We expect this will help in protecting the newly planted saplings on roadsides and green areas near the ridge from getting damaged by the animals. These monkeys live in their natural habitat, and we can’t shift them anywhere against the norms.»
Although no conclusive long-term studies support the notion that langur cutouts can effectively deter monkeys, a similar tactic was implemented by ITBP in certain locations in Lucknow, yielding promising outcomes.
