“Job of the Day”: In India, Some Specialists Pretend to Be Monkeys to Scare Away Real Monkeys

Organizers of the badminton world championships, which are set to take place in New Delhi, have found an unusual way to deal with uninvited guests. To prevent macaques from entering the sports complex, they have hired specialists who can imitate the calls of langurs — larger monkeys that macaques try to avoid.

The unusual measure became necessary after monkeys had already caused problems for organizers during the India Open. One macaque made its way into the stadium stands and began watching the action alongside the spectators. The incident was caught on video and quickly spread across social media.

The decision to use human “langur voices” is linked to the animals’ behavioral patterns. Rhesus macaques are smaller monkeys and perceive langurs as a potential threat. Therefore, a realistic imitation of their calls may prompt macaques to stay away from the competition venue.

One of the hired specialists is already a representative of the third generation of a family involved in imitating langur calls. He demonstrated to journalists how the characteristic sounds of large monkeys can be reproduced using his voice.

In the past, real langurs were indeed used in India to scare away macaques. However, after these animals were granted protected status, the practice became impossible. The animals were replaced by people capable of convincingly copying their calls.

Organizers hope this method will solve the problem without harming the monkeys. In addition to the “monkey charmers,” extra protective measures are being installed at the venue: automatic doors should prevent animals from getting inside, while special bird-control devices that pose no danger to the birds are being used.

The problem with animals is not new for the organizers. During the 2026 India Open, athletes encountered not only monkeys but also birds: one match had to be stopped because bird droppings landed on the court.

Organizers now hope the situation will change by the time the world championships begin. For now, one of the sporting event’s most unusual employees is a person whose main task is to scream like a monkey so that real monkeys do not come to the badminton tournament.

According to Reuters, organizers view this unusual practice as part of New Delhi’s preparations to host major international sporting events.