In order to keep actual monkeys away from sites hosting the G20 Summit next week, authorities in New Delhi have set up fake ones and employed individuals to act like them.
Authorities are hoping that life-size cutouts of violent langur species would help discourage smaller macaques from interrupting the gathering of world leaders that will take place in the Indian capital on Sept. 9–10. Delhi has a large population of monkeys.
The majority of the fictitious monkeys will patrol the area where important foreign dignitaries will be staying.
Additionally, mimics will be used to deter monkeys from nibbling on floral arrangements set up to welcome G20 guests and "ensure that they don't bite anyone," according to a statement sent to the media by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“We have hired over 20 people who can mimic langur sounds … These people will be posted on the main ridge area called Sardar Patel Marg,” the corporation’s spokesperson Radha Krishan said.
It is not the first time that authorities in Delhi have tried to scare away monkeys.
During the Commonwealth Games in 2010, real langurs were patrolling the streets with their handlers to keep smaller monkeys at bay.
However the use of captive animals drew protests from rights activists, and professional langur impersonators have been occasionally used since then to guard parliament and other government buildings.
Authorities are hoping that life-size cutouts of violent langur species would help discourage smaller macaques from interrupting the gathering of world leaders that will take place in the Indian capital on Sept. 9–10. Delhi has a large population of monkeys.
The majority of the fictitious monkeys will patrol the area where important foreign dignitaries will be staying.
Additionally, mimics will be used to deter monkeys from nibbling on floral arrangements set up to welcome G20 guests and "ensure that they don't bite anyone," according to a statement sent to the media by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“We have hired over 20 people who can mimic langur sounds … These people will be posted on the main ridge area called Sardar Patel Marg,” the corporation’s spokesperson Radha Krishan said.
It is not the first time that authorities in Delhi have tried to scare away monkeys.
During the Commonwealth Games in 2010, real langurs were patrolling the streets with their handlers to keep smaller monkeys at bay.
However the use of captive animals drew protests from rights activists, and professional langur impersonators have been occasionally used since then to guard parliament and other government buildings.
