Hanuman is the Hindu deity; an incarnation of the Sir Rama in the struggle against demon King Ravana and a general for the ape-like, forest-dwelling race of vanaras. Vanaras are an interesting bunch of shape-changes; being described as childish, irritating, hyperactive but also loyal, courageous and kind.
It’s perhaps no surprise that the adventurous rhesus macaque monkey is associated with Hanuman. That’s why these monkeys, despite the problems they cause, are rarely trapped or killed in India.
The most recent problem with these rhesus macaque concerns their intelligence. These monkeys worked out how the newly installed automatic doors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi worked. Once inside the hospital they ran, hid, stole food and played with medical equipment.
An unnamed doctor at the hospital has been speaking to the press;
“I was at the patient recovery room when a nurse cried out that a monkey had sneaked in,
“The monkey had somehow entered the main corridor and was hiding in the false roof. As soon as the security guard moved away, it jumped inside. The doors open once they detect any movement, and this is how the simian got in.”
The monkeys are a real problem for the hospital. You can imagine it simply is not possible to run a clean and orderly hospital that’s invaded by tribes of monkeys.
Fortunately a solution was found; more monkeys.
The hospital “hired” two grey langurs, larger monkeys, that hang around nearby and chase the macaques away if they come too close.
The holy monkey terror may sound like a bit of fun for people not caught up in the problem but they are a serious and significant problem in New Delhi. A number of years ago they were responsible for the death of the deputy mayor – as outlined in this news cast.
In Pure Spirit
What do you think? Has the hospital done the right thing by bringing in more monkeys to keep the macaques at bay? Or would it make more sense to change the doors?
Picture credit: Crazy Creatures.
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