Monkeys are being used in the Delhi Commonwealth Games to frighten off other primates which have been known to attack people.
Langurs, a giant, black-faced monkey, have been trained to scare away more common monkeys, which are a menace in some parts of Delhi and could cause problems at the Games.
In 2007, the deputy mayor of New Delhi was killed when he fell from his balcony during an attack by wild monkeys and 25 other people were wounded when a monkey went on a rampage in the city.
A spokesperson for the New Delhi Municipal Council said:
“We have deployed 38 langurs and it is a very effective way to scare away the common monkeys.
“We take these langurs on rent. Their trainers accompany them and once the assignment is over, they return home.”
It’s hoped that the fearless langur monkeys will also help scare away stray dogs from the Commonwealth Games arenas.
Last week, there was an outcry after a deadly cobra was discovered in the room of a South African competitor. The Commonwealth games in Delhi has been plagued by problems from unfinished athletes’ living quarters to the collapse of both a pedestrian footbridge and the ceiling of a boxing venue.
Watch the langur monkey patrol here.
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