Ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Mathura and Vrindavan on March 19, authorities in Uttar Pradesh have put in place special measures to deal with the area’s well-known monkey menace, particularly their habit of snatching spectacles from visitors.
To prevent any disruption during the President’s itinerary, officials are deploying forest department teams and installing langur statues at key locations. The idea behind the statues is to deter monkeys, as they are naturally wary of langurs, which are considered their predators.
Around 30 forest personnel will be stationed across monkey-prone areas in Vrindavan and Govardhan. Heavily affected zones will have up to eight personnel each, while relatively less sensitive areas will have smaller teams. These teams will be equipped with slingshots, sticks, and even red and green laser lights to scare away monkeys if required.
The preparations are focused on ensuring smooth movement during the President’s temple visits in Vrindavan, and her scheduled Govardhan parikrama — a 21-kilometre religious circuit. She is also set to inaugurate a cancer block at the Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram Charitable Hospital during her visit.
Vrindavan’s monkeys have long been notorious for snatching spectacles, mobile phones, and other items, often returning them only after being offered food or packaged drinks. This unusual behaviour has affected tourists and officials alike. In one instance in 2022, a senior district official reportedly had to negotiate the return of his spectacles by offering a beverage to a monkey.
Earlier, during high-profile visits, trained langurs were deployed along with handlers to keep monkeys away. However, due to wildlife protection regulations, the use of live langurs is no longer permitted. Authorities have now opted for langur cutouts and increased manpower as an alternative solution.
Officials said they will maintain heightened vigilance throughout the President’s visit, especially in areas with high monkey activity, to ensure that the programme proceeds without any incidents.
