Unusual Solution to Keep Monkeys Away from Badminton Championships
As the countdown begins for next week’s badminton World Championships at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, organizers have come up with a unique plan to keep monkeys at bay. They’ve hired three professional mimics to imitate the sounds of langurs, aiming to scare off the pesky macaques.
PV Sindhu, the renowned Indian shuttler, remarked that while this idea may bring a smile, it underscores the country’s commitment to hosting a successful event.
After 17 years, the BWF World Championships are returning to India. To enhance the experience, the Badminton Association of India and the Sports Authority of India have revamped the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, addressing issues that arose during the India Open earlier this year, which saw monkeys causing disruptions.
The organizers have brought in trained monkey whisperers who mimic langur calls, helping to deter the rhesus macaques that often roam central Delhi, especially areas around the stadium. This invention comes following incidents at the India Open where monkeys intruded into the spectator stands, causing quite a stir in the media.
Rhesus macaques tend to shy away from langurs because of their larger size, making this mimicry a clever technique. It’s important to note that using actual langurs for such activities has been banned since 2012.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, stated, “This may seem funny, but it’s a uniquely Indian solution.” She emphasized the collective effort behind the scenes, saying, “While our methods may be unconventional, our warmth and hospitality are what truly stand out.”
Earlier this year, even the Delhi Assembly sought out mimics to deal with the monkey situation in the city.
One of the hired monkey whisperers, Zafar, explained, “When we make these sounds, many monkeys run away. This helps keep them from blocking paths or causing trouble.” He added that this skill is part of a family tradition, with years of experience in different locations across Delhi and beyond.
This innovative approach is just one example of how India is preparing to welcome the world to the badminton championships.
