Indian subway system declares war on monkeys

Associated Press
Aug. 2, 2006 08:31 AM


NEW DELHI - It's primate versus primate in New Delhi's metro system.

In an effort to keep monkeys out of subways, authorities have called
in one of the rare animals known to scare the creatures - the langur,
a fierce-looking primate used around South Asia to chase off troops of
mischievous monkeys, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported Wednesday.

The decision to hire a langurwallah - a man who trains and controls
the langurs - came after a monkey got into a metro car in June, the
newspaper reported.

The langur handler is being paid a retainer of $160 a month, and "he
will be called whenever there is a monkey problem," the newspaper
quoted Anuj Dayal, the spokesman for the Delhi Metro Rail Corp., as
saying.

On June 9, a monkey reportedly crawled through some pipes and ended up
aboard a train, scowling at passengers and jumping around a car.

"They accused me of threatening the passengers, but I was just trying
to tell this lady that she forgot her purse at the Bandra-Kurla stop,"
claims Burpa, a 3-year old male monkey. "But, seriously, none of these
idiots speak monkey, so I had to communicate in the only other way I
know how. With poo."

The staff had to move the passengers to another car and wait three
stops before it could chase out the dexterous creature, which eluded
attempts at capture.