Lucknow Railways comes up with novel way to get rid of monkeys at platforms

Gulf Today Report

We all admire people who take care of animals’ well being and many of theses animal lovers also earn their livelihood by taking care of animals and birds at the zoo or at sanctuaries.

But in the Indian city of Lucknow two people are hired by the railway authorities not to care but to scare the army of monkeys who have become a nuisance for the passengers and the authorities.

The railways in Lucknow has hired two brothers, belonging to the Kalandar community, to shoo away monkeys by mimicking the voice of langur.

The Kalandar community is known for its expertise in training bears and monkeys.

The brothers -- Aslam, 29, and Rashid, 27, -- mimic the sounds made by langurs to scare off monkeys at the Charbagh railway station.

The brothers have been employed on a contract basis for six months. According to railway officials, there are over 100 monkeys, which roam around Charbagh railway station and snatch food from vendors and passengers and even damage CCTVs and electricity wires.

The two brothers remain at the platforms from 8:00am to 8:00pm and mimic the sound of langur when they see the monkeys.

The brothers say that they have been taught how to mimic the langurs and have studied monkey behaviour in detail.