(Photo: Real langurs photographed by strudelt)
Gray langurs are large monkeys that are common in India. They're often kept in the capital, New Delhi, to guard government buildings from smaller animals. 4 years ago, I noted that they would be used to beef up security for the Commonwealth Games. Alex commented:
Then when those monkeys run rampant, then India would have to get even larger monkeys to chase them off ... and so on and so on.
His observation was prescient. The langurs have become a menace, particularly to the government officials who work in the district where the langurs live. They sometimes attack humans, steal food, and destroy utility cables. Animal rights activists are also concerned about the welfare of these monkeys.
So the city government is taking action. It hired 40 men to dress up as langurs. They will chase, bark, and hiss at the monkeys until they have re-established order in the capital.
But Alex's point remains: what does the government plan to do once these monkey men become a threat?
It's like we are of one mind.