3 weeks ago
Langur Mimics Hired to Scare Monkeys at Badminton World Championships
Four people are being paid to pretend to be langurs, big monkeys that other monkeys are afraid of, in New Delhi, India.
They make langur noises to keep rhesus macaques, a smaller type of monkey, away from a big badminton stadium.
A few months ago, during an event called the India Open, a monkey got into the stands and watched with the fans.
Bird droppings also fell from the ceiling and stopped a match two times.
So the organizers closed the doors and gaps where animals could get in.
They put special gel to keep pigeons away and machines that play sounds of scary birds.
They also fixed the lights and the roof and cleaned up the toilets.
The badminton world championships will now be held in the stadium from August 17 to August 23.
Everyone is working hard so the event goes smoothly, because India wants to host even bigger sports events in the future.
Organizers hired trained 'monkey mimics' to imitate langur calls and keep rhesus macaques away from the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium during the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, held August 17-23.
The unusual measure follows the January India Open, when a monkey entered the spectator area and bird droppings twice stopped a match between HS Prannoy and Loh Kean Yew.
The BWF acknowledged issues with 'general cleanliness, hygiene and animal control' but backed the venue, while organizers sealed entry points with double doors, applied non-toxic gel and installed predatory-bird sound devices.
The venue also received upgraded lighting, repaired roof leakages and renovated toilets; the championships return to India for the first time since 2009.
Star shuttler PV Sindhu praised the 'uniquely Indian' effort, and officials see the event as a test of India's readiness for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and a possible 2036 Olympics bid.
- Who
- The Badminton Association of India (BAI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Ministry, who are organizing the event, plus hired langur-call mimics such as Zafar, a third-generation 'monkey whisperer.'
- What
- Venue-readiness preparation for the BWF World Championships, including hiring men to imitate langur calls to deter rhesus macaques, sealing entry points, applying anti-pest gel and installing bird-repelling sound devices.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium complex, New Delhi, India.
- When
- Preparation followed the January India Open, and the championships run from August 17 to August 23.
- Why
- To prevent a repeat of January's problems, when a monkey entered the spectator area and bird droppings twice stopped a match at the India Open.
Social media skeptics
PV Sindhu and the organizers
Hiring langur-call mimics
Social media skeptics
The news evoked curiosity and laughter after being shared widely on social media, with the solution widely seen as humorous.
PV Sindhu and the organizers
PV Sindhu said people may laugh at the solution but must love the effort, calling the approach 'uniquely Indian' and a sign of warmth and hospitality.
Readiness to host major events
Social media skeptics
Animal intrusion, bird-dropping stoppages and concerns over cleanliness and hygiene at the India Open drew international criticism, raising doubts about India's hosting ability.
PV Sindhu and the organizers
BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra said the issues faced during the India Open have been addressed, the sports ministry improved the facility, and the BWF is 100 per cent happy with the arrangements.
Key facts
- Event
- BWF World Championships
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
- Dates
- August 17-23
- Monkey mimics hired
- 4 (one report says 3)
- Monthly pay per mimic
- Rs 25,000
- Ticket prices
- ₹499 to ₹5,500
- Public seats
- Around 6,000
- Last held in India
- 2009
Quotes
Sanjay Mishra
Secretary General of the Badminton Association of India
“"Monkeys are absolutely terrified of langurs, which is why mimicking is so effective. This is our generational job. We have been doing it our whole lives. I have served in several government offices, and the idea is not to harm the monkeys, but just to make sure they won’t come."”
telegraphindia.com
“"You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort. So many people are working behind the scenes to make sure India is ready to welcome the world. Our solutions may be uniquely Indian, but so are our warmth, our spirit and our hospitality."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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