GUWAHATI: As Delhi prepares to host the Badminton World Championships next week, three men with an unusual skill will be part of the workforce ensuring the event runs smoothly- mimicking the calls of langur monkeys to keep rhesus macaques away from the venue.
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The decision to deploy the “monkey whisperers” comes after a monkey was seen in the gallery during the Indian Open at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium earlier this year, raising concerns for organisers and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) ahead of the World Championships.
Rhesus monkeys are a persistent problem in the national capital, often entering buildings and occasionally attacking residents and pedestrians. Langurs, which are larger primates with distinctive black faces, have traditionally been used to deter them, including at offices and other public spaces.
However, with the use of langurs prohibited by law, Delhi has turned to human “monkey whisperers” who imitate langur calls using their voices and their understanding of monkey behaviour.
These men are hired to stand near offices, sporting venues and other locations where monkeys are likely to appear. During Parliament sessions, they have also been known to hide among bushes and make langur calls to drive the monkeys away.
The langur mimics are paid between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000 per assignment.
With the Badminton World Championships set to take place in Delhi, organisers are taking extra measures to prevent a repeat of the incident and ensure that monkeys do not disrupt matches or trouble spectators and players. The event is also being seen as an opportunity for India to demonstrate its ability to host major international sporting events, particularly as the country prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and bids for the 2036 Olympics.
Monkeys, however, are not the only animals causing concerns for organisers. An overpopulation of pigeons at the venue has also emerged as a challenge.
During the Indian Open, a badminton match had to be stopped twice after birds fouled the court, while players also raised concerns about hygiene.
To prevent pigeons from nesting at the stadium, organisers have applied a non-toxic gel, commonly used on railway wiring, to the roof and ducts.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu reacted to the unusual preparations, praising the efforts taking place behind the scenes to ensure India is ready to welcome athletes and visitors from around the world.
“You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort,” Sindhu said, adding that the country's solutions may be “uniquely Indian” but reflect its warmth, spirit and hospitality.
The Badminton World Championships are set to bring the world's top players to Delhi, with organisers working to ensure that even the capital's monkey and pigeon problems do not disrupt the global sporting spectacle.